Reactions of the triruthenium clusters
{Cp*Ru(μ-H)}3(μ3-H)2 (1) and (Cp*Ru)3(μ3-H)(μ-H)2(μ-CO) (12) (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) with benzonitrile were investigated in relation
to the selective hydrogenation of benzonitrile to benzylamine. Benzonitrile
undergoes consecutive transformations into μ3-η2:η2(⊥)-nitrile, μ3-η2:η2(⊥)-imidoyl, μ3-η2(∥)-imidoyl, μ3-η2-alkylideneamido, μ3-imido,
and μ-amido ligands on the Ru3 plane accompanied
by the uptake of dihydrogen. The reactions are analogues of nitrile
hydrogenation on a metal surface. The complexes are structural models
of chemisorbed species and catalyze the hydrogenation of benzonitrile.
Complex 1 catalyzes benzonitrile hydrogenation without
additives but exhibits only moderate selectivity toward benzylamine.
Although the μ3-benzylimido complex {Cp*Ru(μ-H)}3(μ3-NCH2Ph) (4) was
obtained by reaction of 1 with benzonitrile, it was readily
transformed into to the μ3-imidoyl complexes (Cp*Ru)3(μ-H)2{μ3-η2:η2(⊥)-PhCNH} (3) and (Cp*Ru)3(H)4{μ3-η2(∥∥)-PhCNH}
(4), which are key intermediates in secondary imine formation.
Two benzonitrile molecules were incorporated on the Ru3 plane under the reaction conditions, which decreases the selectivity
of primary amine formation. In contrast, μ-carbonyl complex 12 suppresses the incorporation of additional benzonitrile
ligands and the formation of μ3-imidoyl species due
to the presence of CO. These features of 12 bring about
significant improvement in the selectivity of benzonitrile hydrogenation
and produce benzylamine in 92% yield.