CO Oxidation by N2O Homogeneously Catalyzed by Ruthenium Hydride Pincer Complexes Indicating a New Mechanism

Both CO and N2O are important, environmentally harmful industrial gases. The reaction of CO and N2O to produce CO2 and N-2 has stimulated much research interest aimed at degradation of these two gases in a single step. Herein, we report an efficient CO oxidation by N2O catalyzed by a (PNN)Ru-H pincer complex under mild conditions, even with no added base. The reaction is proposed to proceed through a sequence of O-atom transfer (OAT) from N2O to the Ru-H bond to form a Ru-OH intermediate, followed by intramolecular OH attack on an adjacent CO ligand, forming CO2 and N-2. Thus, the Ru-H bond of the catalyst plays a central role in facilitating the OAT from N2O to CO, providing an efficient and novel protocol for CO oxidation.