CO Oxidation by N2O Homogeneously Catalyzed by Ruthenium Hydride Pincer Complexes Indicating a New Mechanism

Both CO and N2O are important, environmentally harmful industrial gases. The reaction of CO and N2O to produce CO2 and N2 has stimulated much research interest aimed at degradation of these two gases in a single step. Herein, we report an efficient CO oxidation by N2O catalyzed by a (PNN)­Ru–H pincer complex under mild conditions, even with no added base. The reaction is proposed to proceed through a sequence of O-atom transfer (OAT) from N2O to the Ru–H bond to form a Ru–OH intermediate, followed by intramolecular OH attack on an adjacent CO ligand, forming CO2 and N2. Thus, the Ru–H bond of the catalyst plays a central role in facilitating the OAT from N2O to CO, providing an efficient and novel protocol for CO oxidation.