Three
ruthenium(II) and two iridium(III) N-heterocyclic carbene
(NHC) complexes functionalized with sulfonates are compared with respect
to their activity and selectivity for the transfer hydrogenation of
imines, aldehydes, ketones, and olefins using neat glycerol as hydrogen
donor and solvent. Four of the five catalysts likely proceed through
a monohydride mechanism and are more active for transfer hydrogenation
of imines than aldehydes, ketones, and olefins. The fifth catalyst
likely proceeds through a dihydride mechanism and is found to be more
active for carbonyls than imines and olefins. Lactic acid is observed
as the only detectable byproduct from glycerol. Quantitative poisoning
experiments with 1,10-phenanthroline suggest that the predominant
catalytically active species is a ligated homogeneous complex with
weak binding to the poison. The potential for catalyst recycling is
explored: the ruthenium NHC catalysts with chelating ligands are found
to be more robust and recyclable relative to the iridium catalysts
and the ruthenium mono-NHC catalyst. The reason is traced to the relative
rate of degradation of the catalyst in the presence of glycerol and
KOH but no substrate. This degradation is only observed when glycerol
is used, as replacing glycerol with isopropanol allows the ruthenium
catalyst to be fully recyclable.