Efficient and selective hydrogenation of amides to alcohols and amines using a well-defined manganese–PNN pincer complex†

Abstract

Novel manganese NNP and PNP pincer complexes have been synthesized. The active catalyst allows the efficient hydrogenation of a wide range of amides under relatively mild conditions to afford alcohols and amines in high yields.

Abstract

Novel well-defined NNP and PNP manganese pincer complexes have been synthetized and fully characterized. The catalyst Mn-2 containing an imidazolyaminolphosphino ligand shows high activity and selectivity in the hydrogenation of a wide range of secondary and tertiary amides to the corresponding alcohols and amines, under relatively mild conditions. For the first time, more challenging substrates like primary aromatic amides including an actual herbicide can also be hydrogenated using this earth-abundant metal-based pincer catalyst.

Notes

†Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: General experimental procedures, additional schemes and figures, characterization data and NMR spectra are available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7sc00138j