A simple, catalytic H2-hydrogenation method for the synthesis of fine chemicals; hydrogenation of protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester

A conceptually simple H2-hydrogenation protocol is introduced for the high-yield preparation of a natural product derivative. Protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester is hydrogenated to the mesoporphyrin analogue in N,N-dimethylacetamide under H2 (1 atm) at 80 °C within 30 min. The reaction is catalyzed by commercial RuCl3, without the need for the use of phosphine- and/or carbene-based ligands.