1/26/2012 - Synthesis of Imines from Alcohols Catalyzed by a Ruthenium Complex

     This reaction involves turning a primary alcohol into an imine product with the alleviation of hydrogen gas, catalyzed in the presence of a Ruthenium N-Heterocyclic Carbene complex in the presence of DABCO (which acts as a ligand).  The mechanism is quite complicated but it incolves the exchange of Cl's for H's onto the Ruthenium, and then the addition of the alcohol, followed by the loss of H2, and then the addition of the amine, and then the alleviation of the final imine product.  This reaction was researched by Agnese Maggi and Robert Madsen out of the Department of Chemistry at the Technical University of Denmark.

Picture: from source.

Source: Organometallics 2012, 31, 451−455