Substrate effects on the mechanism of enantioselective hydrogenation using ruthenium bis(phosphine) complexes as catalyst: A mechanistic investigation of the hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated acids and esters based on deuterium labeling studies

The mechanism of ruthenium-bis(phosphine) catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of olefins was examined using [Ru((R)-BINAP)(H)(MeCN)n(sol)3 − n]BF4 (n = 0–3, sol = solvent used in reaction) as catalyst. Tiglic and angelic acids were used as standard α,β-unsaturated acid substrates; (Z)-methyl α-acetamidocinnamate and dimethyl itaconate were used as standard α,β-unsaturated ester substrates. Isotopic labeling studies (deuterium scrambling) indicate that two distinct mechanisms are in operation for α,β-unsaturated acids versus α,β-unsaturated esters. In each case, 5-membered metallocycle intermediates are formed via olefin-hydride insertion. The mechanisms, however, deviate primarily in the activation of dihydrogen, which is strongly affected by the nature of the substrate. Hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated acids proceed via heterolytic cleavage of dihydrogen, whereas hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated esters proceed via homolytic cleavage of dihydrogen. A full discussion of the mechanisms is presented.