Direct Catalytic Hydrogenation of Simple Amides: A Highly Efficient Approach from Amides to Amines and Alcohols

A highly chemoselective and reactive direct catalytic reduction of various amides to amines and alcohols was developed by using a tetradentate ruthenium complex. The catalytic system showed excellent activity (turnover numbers up to 19600) and great functional group tolerance under mild reaction conditions, compared to several bidentate and tridentate ruthenium-catalyzed systems.