N-Heterocyclic carbene-based well-defined ruthenium hydride complexes for direct amide synthesis from alcohols and amines under base-free conditions

Readily synthesized, well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene-based ruthenium(II) hydride complexes were developed for amide synthesis from alcohols and amines under base-free conditions. Diverse amides were synthesized in fair-to-excellent yields. In the case of secondary amines, where direct dehydrogenative amidation is not feasible, a catalytic amount of a base was required to promote the transamidation of esters, which are byproducts of alcohol dimerization.

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