ortho-Amino group functionalized 2,2′-bipyridine based Ru(II) complex catalysed alkylation of secondary alcohols, nitriles and amines using alcohols

Various Ru(ii) complexes bearing functionalized 2,2-bipyridine ligands were synthesized and fully characterized. Among them, a new N6,N6-dimethyl-2,2-bipyridine-6,6-diamine ligand was found to be the most electron-rich ligand as its corresponding Ru(ii) complex (1a) displayed the lowest (co) value and the highest efficiency in the -alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols (TON = 98860). Complex 1a also exhibited a greater reactivity in the monoalkylation of acetonitrile, -alkylation as well as -methylation of arylacetonitriles. Compared to the other reported systems, in -methylation of nitriles complex 1a presented superior catalytic activity. The potential of complex 1a was extended further in N-methylation of amines using methanol as a green methylating agent.