Direct Synthesis of Amides from Coupling of Alcohols and Amines Catalyzed by Ruthenium(II) Thiocarboxamide Complexes under Aerobic Conditions

Four octahedral ruthenium­(II) thiocarboxamide complexes of the general formula [RuClCO­(AsPh3)2­(L)] (L = N-substituted pyridine-2-thiocarboxamide) incorporating carbonyl and triphenylarsine have been synthesized from the reaction of 1 equiv of ruthenium precursor [RuHClCO­(AsPh3)3] with 1 equiv of thiocarboxamide ligands in refluxing ethanol in the presence of base. All the new complexes have been fully characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR, UV–vis, and NMR spectral methods. Molecular structures of all the complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography, which confirm the coordination mode of thiocarboxamide and reveal the presence of a distorted octahedral geometry around the Ru ion. All the ruthenium­(II) thiocarboxamide complexes were generated as highly efficient catalysts for synthesis of secondary or tertiary amides by coupling of amines and alcohols with low catalyst loading, and the maximum yield was obtained up to 97%. The coupling reaction can be readily carried out under mild aerobic conditions, and release of water is the only byproduct. Further, the effect of substituents of the ligand, solvents, reaction temperature, time, and catalyst loading on the catalytic activity of the complexes has been investigated. A plausible mechanism is proposed for the synthesis of amides via hemiaminal as intermediate through an oxidation of an alcohol to aldehyde.