Synthesis of Symmetrical Phenacyl Benzoate Derivatives via Ruthenium Hydride‎–‎Catalyzed C‎–‎C and sp2‎–‎C‎–‎O Bonds Formation under Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Conditions

In the present work, the catalytic activity of [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3] in the homogeneous form and also supported on graphene oxide nanosheets in the efficient synthesis of phenacyl benzoate derivatives by the reaction of aldehydes with diethyl 2‎–‎(ethoxymethylene)malonate (DEMM) via hydrogen transfer is reported. Under the same conditions, alcohols were also reacted with DEMM to provide a set of phenacyl benzoate derivatives in good to excellent yields. In these reactions, C‎–‎C and sp2‎–‎C‎–‎O bonds were formed by applying the ruthenium catalyst. While the homogeneous catalyst is not recoverable, the heterogeneous counterpart was reused several times without loss of its initial activity.

Synthesis of Symmetrical Phenacyl Benzoate Derivatives via Ruthenium Hydride‎–‎Catalyzed C‎–‎C and sp2‎–‎C‎–‎O Bonds Formation under Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Conditions Keywords:

Hydrogen transfer , Ruthenium hydride‎ , Homogeneous catalyst , Phenacyl benzoate , Heterogeneous catalyst