Synthesis of imine and reduced imine compounds containing aromatic sulfonamide: use as catalyst for in situ generation of ruthenium catalysts in transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives

Abstract

Three imine and three reduced imine ligands containing aromatic sulfonamide (2-7) were isolated by a simple method and characterized by FT-IR, NMR, and elemental analysis. Meanwhile, the interaction of 2-7 ligands with [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 was analyzed in situ by UV-vis spectrophotometer. The in situ generated catalytic system derived from N-(2-(benzylideneamino)phenyl)-2,4,6-trimethyl-benzenesulfonamides and N-(2-(benzylamino)phenyl)-2,4,6-trimethyl-benzenesulfonamides with [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 was used as a catalyst in the transfer hydrogenation (TH) of p-substituted acetophenone derivatives. The catalytic systems displayed high activities, which increased in the order 7<4<5<6<1<2<3. The best activity for the TH of 4-chloroacetophenone was provided with the [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2/ligand (3) catalytic system (turnover frequency values: 720 h(-1) for 10 min on S/C: 500/1).

Keywords: Imine; Reduced imine ligands; Sulfonamide; Transfer hydrogenation.