Decarbonylation of Acetone and Carbonate at a Pincer-Ligated Ru Center

A Ru center ligated by a pincer bis(o-phosphinoaryl)amine (PNP) ligand in (PNP)RuH(H2) is sufficiently electron rich to break C−O and C−C bonds, resulting in the ultimate decarbonylation of hydrocarbonate and acetone, respectively, to give (PNP)RuH(CO). The decarbonylation of acetone is accompanied by hydrogenolysis of the C−C bonds to produce methane.