Immobilized ruthenium metal-containing ionic liquid-catalyzed dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane complex for the reduction of olefins and nitroarenes

Abstract

An efficient immobilized ruthenium metal containing ionic liquid (ImmRu-IL) catalyst has been developed for the transfer hydrogenation of olefins and nitroarenes. Various olefins and nitroarenes were reduced in excellent yields within 2–6 h at room temperature. This methodology uses eco-friendly dimethylamine borane as a reducing agent which is nontoxic, water soluble, highly stable and easy to handle. The reactions take place through tandem dehydrogenation and hydrogenation of dimethylamine borane complex in the presence of ImmRu-IL catalyst. The catalyst was reused in up to four consecutive cycles without any significance loss in its activity. The fresh and reused catalysts have been studied by XPS analysis.