The transfer hydrogenation of azoarenes to hydrazoarenes using ethanol as a hydrogen source by a bidentate Ru(II)-NC complex is developed. A weak base is crucial for this semihydrogenation that can… Click to show full abstract
The transfer hydrogenation of azoarenes to hydrazoarenes using ethanol as a hydrogen source by a bidentate Ru(II)-NC complex is developed. A weak base is crucial for this semihydrogenation that can efficiently avoid hydrazoarene dehydrogenation under strongly basic conditions. Control experiments and density functional theory calculations demonstrate the mechanism via a Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley mechanism, and the only byproduct is ethyl acetate. This study offers a new and simple approach for the synthesis of hydrazoarenes.
               
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