Ruthenium on charcoal (Ru/C) has been found to be a very efficient catalyst for the oxidation of alcohols to give carbonyl compounds in the presence of molecular oxygen (Scheme 6).
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Scheme 6 |
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Scheme 7 |
1.8.2.2 Epoxidation
Ruthenium complexes containing porphyrin based ligands have been used for the epoxidation of alkenes. For example, ruthenium complex of tetramesitylporphyrinato (TMP) is very effective catalyst for the epoxidation of styrene in the presence of pyridine N-oxide as a terminal oxidant (Scheme 7).
1.8.2.3 Dihydroxylation
RuCl3 in combination with NaIO4 can dihydroxylate the double bond efficiently to give cis-1,2-diols (Scheme 8). The reaction exhibits greater reactivity in a mixture of solvents.
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Scheme 8 |
1.8.2.4 α-Oxidation
The ethers and tertiary amines undergo carbonylation in its α-carbon to give esters and amides, respectively (Scheme 9).
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Scheme 9 |