C−C Bond Forming Reaction through Aldol-Type Addition Mediated by a [Ru2(CO)4]2+ Core

An aldol-like addition of acetone to 2-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine and 2,3-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridine mediated by a [Ru2(CO)4]2+ core at room temperature affords the C−C-coupled compounds 2-methyl-1-(1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)propan-2-ol (L1) and 2-methyl-1-(3-methyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)propan-2-ol (L2). A similar reaction with methyl ethyl ketone and 2-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine affords 2-methyl-1-(1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)butan-2-ol (L3). The syntheses and structures of [Ru2(CO)4(L1)2][X]2 (2, X = BF4; 2a, X = OTf), [Ru2(CO)4(L2)2][BF4]2 (3), and [Ru2(CO)4(L3)2][BF4]2 (4) are reported here.