Quinoline transfer hydrogenation by a rhodium bipyridine catalyst

The catalytic activity of the rhodium complex cis-[Rh(bipy)2Cl2]Cl · 2H2O in the transfer hydrogenation of different unsaturated substrates is reported. This complex, if pre-activated, is very active in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones (i.e., cyclohexanone is reduced with a 38.1% conversion at 283 K and 100% at 313 K) while in the case of hex-1-ene, a 36.8% conversion was reached at 293 K. A cyclic olefin (cyclohexene) was also reduced with a lower, but still significant, conversion.It is interesting to note the catalytic activity of this complex in the transfer hydrogenation of a CN double bond belonging to imides or nitrogen-containing heterocycles. For instance, N-benzylidenaniline was hydrogenated to N-benzylaniline at 303 K with a conversion of 27.3%. Increasing the temperature to 353 K, the conversion rised to 91.8%. A nitrogen containing heterocycle, quinoline, was also reduced by transfer hydrogenation at 353 K with a 11.7% conversion giving 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (selectivity of 96.6%). The conversion rised up to 54.2% with a still high selectivity (84.5%) when the temperature was 383 K. Almost the same activity was shown in the reduction of pyridine to pyperidine (conversion, 51.1% at 383 K), while 2-methylpyridine was hydrogenated with a 24.7% conversion.

Graphical abstractThe pre-activated rhodium(III) complex cis-[Rh(bipy)2Cl2]Cl is catalytically active in the transfer hydrogenation of organic substrates containing a CC, CO or CN group giving the corresponding saturated compounds. High conversion is usually obtained depending on the temperature, catalyst or substrate concentration. A catalytic cycle is suggested.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide