Catalytic Activity of Bis-phosphine Ruthenium(II)−Arene Compounds: Chemoselective Hydrogenation and Mechanistic Insights

Bis-phosphine ruthenium(II)−arene complexes have
been found to be highly active and chemoselective catalysts for
the hydrogenation of aldehydes in the presence of olefinic bonds.
Mechanistic studies, including comparisons with a structural
analogue, reactions of an isolated hydride complex, base
poisoning experiments, and a computational analysis, help
rationalize the preferential hydrogenation of CO bonds, which
is suggested to proceed via an ionic outer-sphere mechanism.