Efficient transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds catalyzed by selenophenolato hydrido iron(II) complexes

Abstract

Selenophenolato hydrido iron(II) complexes 1–3cis-[(H)(SeAr)Fe(PMe3)4] (Ar = C6H5 (1), p-MeOC6H4 (2) and o-MeC6H4 (3)) could catalyze transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes and ketones. Among the three complexes, catalyst 1 exhibited the highest catalytic activity. The catalytic reactions took place under very mild conditions, using isopropanol as solvent and hydrogen source, tBuONa as base under 60–80 °C. This catalytic system has good tolerance for many functional groups, such as halides, CC double bonds, nitro groups and cyano groups at the phenyl ring of the substrates.