Cyclopentadienyl-ruthenium(II) complexes as efficient catalysts for the reduction of carbonyl compounds

•CpRu(PPh3)2Cl is highly efficient catalyst for the reduction of carbonyl compounds.•The reductions can be performed under solvent free conditions.•The catalyst CpRu(PPh3)2Cl can be use in 12 catalytic cycles with excellent activity.

This work reports the reduction of a large variety of aldehydes and ketones with the system PhSiH3/[CpRu(PPh3)2Cl] in good to excellent yields and high chemoselectivity. The catalyst [CpRu(PPh3)2Cl] can be used in at least 12 catalytic cycles with excellent catalytic activity and several substrates were reduced under solvent free conditions.

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