Mechanism of ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogen transfer reactions. Evidence for a stepwise transfer of CH and NH hydrogens from an amine to a (cyclopentadienone)ruthenium complex

Kinetic deuterium isotope effects and racemization studies indicate that dehydrogenation of an amine by a (cyclopentadienone) ruthenium complex occurs via a slow (beta)-hydride elimination of coordinated amine followed by a proton transfer from nitrogen to carbonyl oxygen.