Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Transient Ru-Methyl Formate Intermediates Generated With Bifunctional Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysts, Richard H. Perry, Kristen R. Brownell, Konstantin Chingin, Thomas J. Cahill Iii, Robert M. Waymouth, Richard N. Zare

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) coupled to high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) was used to study the reactivity of a (β-amino alcohol)(arene)RuCl transfer hydrogenation catalytic precursor in methanol (CH₃OH). By placing [(p-cymene)RuCl₂]₂ on a surface and spraying a solution of β-amino alcohol in methanol, two unique transient intermediates having lifetimes in the submillisecond to millisecond range were detected. These intermediates were identified as Ru (II) and Ru (IV) complexes incorporating methyl formate (HCOOCH₃). The Ru (IV) intermediate is not observed when the DESI spray solution is sparged with Ar gas, indicating that …