Applicants have unexpectedly discovered that catalysts made from a ruthenium catalyst precursor or preformed ruthenium catalysts as otherwise described in the present specification are capable of effecting the addition of a N-H bond across an olefin C=C (olefinic) bond of a substrate with a high degree of regioselectivity and enantioselectivity in high yield. These addition reactions proceed in an anti-Markovnikov or Markovnikov fashion depending upon the catalyst precursor used to generate the ruthenium catalyst which actually participates in the addition reaction. The present invention relates to methods of adding N-H bonds across an olefinic bond in a substrate, using a ruthenium catalyst precursor or catalyst I comprising a compound according to the general structure I: Formula (I) where Ru is a ruthenium atom; L1 represents one or more coordinated ancillary ligands, which may be all the same ligand or which may be a combination of different ligands, each of which may be neutral or formally charged, and each of which may be monodentate and coordinated to ruthenium through a single atom or which may be linked or chelated and bound through more than one atom; L2 represents one or more formally charged ligands which are the same or different and which are optionally susceptible to removal with a strong acid; and x is 0-6, preferably 1, y is 0-6, preferably 2 and n is 1-4, preferably 1.
申请人意外地发现,根据本说明书描述的
钌催化剂前体或预先形成的
钌催化剂能够以高产率实现对底物的烯烃C=C(烯烃)键进行N-H键的加成反应,并具有很高的区域选择性和对映选择性。这些加成反应可以以反Markovnikov或Markovnikov方式进行,具体取决于用于生成实际参与加成反应的
钌催化剂的催化剂前体。本发明涉及一种使用
钌催化剂前体或催化剂I的方法,在底物的烯烃键上添加N-H键,催化剂I包括符合一般结构I的化合物:公式(I),其中Ru是
钌原子;L1代表一个或多个配位辅助
配体,可以是全部相同的
配体,也可以是不同
配体的组合,每个
配体可以是中性的或正式带电的,每个
配体可以是一齿的,并通过单个原子与
钌配位,也可以是连接或螯合并通过多于一个原子结合;
L2代表一个或多个正式带电的
配体,可以是相同的或不同的,并且可以通过强酸去除;x为0-6,优选为1,y为0-6,优选为2,n为1-4,优选为1。