Ruthenium hydrogenation catalysts
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsRichard Paul Beatty, Rocco Angelo Paciello
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Abstract
The invention relates to a novel ruthenium complex having the formula Ru(.eta..sup.3 --C.sub.6 H.sub.8 --PCy.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3)Cl, wherein Cy is cyclohexyl; its use in the preparation of RuHCl(H.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3).sub.2 and RuH.sub.2 (H.sub.2).sub.2 (PCy.sub.3).sub.2 ; and the use of the complexes as catalysts in hydrogenation, imination and reductive hydrolysis processes.
Claims37
A process for the hydrogenation of an organic nitrile, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said nitrile with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a ruthenium complex catalyst having the formula:
- Ru(.eta..sup.3 --C.sub.6 H.sub.8 --PCy.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3)Cl or RuHCl(H.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3).sub.2, wherein Cy is a cyclohexyl group;
- and
- (b) subsequently agitating the nitrile, hydrogen and catalyst to form a primary amine.
A process for the selective hydrogenation of a dinitrile, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said dinitrile with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a ruthenium complex catalyst having the formula Ru(.eta..sup.3 --C.sub.6 H.sub.8 --PCy.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3)Cl or RuHCl(H.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3).sub.2, wherein Cy is a cyclohexyl group;
- and
- (b) subsequently agitating the dinitrile, hydrogen and catalyst for an amount of time selected to favor formation of an aminonitrile over a diamine.
A process for the reductive hydrolysis of an organic nitrile, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said nitrile with gaseous hydrogen and water in the presence of a ruthenium complex catalyst having the formula Ru(.eta..sup.3 --C.sub.6 H.sub.8 --PCy.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3)Cl or RuHCl(H.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3).sub.2 ;
- and
- (b) subsequently agitating the nitrile, water, hydrogen and catalyst to form an alcohol.
A process for the selective reductive hydrolysis of a dinitrile, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said dinitrile with gaseous hydrogen and water in the presence of a ruthenium complex catalyst having the formula Ru(.eta..sup.3 --C.sub.6 H.sub.8 --PCy.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3)Cl and RuHCl(H.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3).sub.2, wherein Cy is a cyclohexyl group, and
- (b) subsequently agitating the dinitrile, hydrogen, water and catalyst for an amount of time selected to favor yield of a hydroxynitrile over yield of a diol.
A process for the reductive imination of a nitrile to an aldimine, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said nitrile with gaseous hydrogen and a primary amine in the presence of a ruthenium complex catalyst having the formula Ru(.eta..sup.3 --C.sub.6 H.sub.8 --PCy.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3)Cl or RuHCl(H.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3).sub.2, where Cy is cyclohexyl;
- and
- (b) subsequently agitating the nitrile, hydrogen, amine and catalyst to form said aldimine.
A process for the hydrogenation of a vitro compound to a primary amine, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting the vitro compound having at least one NO.sub.2 group with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a ruthenium complex catalyst having the formula Ru(.eta..sup.3 --C.sub.6 H.sub.8 --PCy.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3)Cl or RuHCl(H.sub.2)(PCy.sub.3).sub.2, wherein Cy is a cyclohexyl group;
- and
- (b) subsequently agitating the vitro compound, hydrogen and catalyst to form said primary amine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.