Ruthenium-Catalyzed Organic Synthesis in Aqueous Media

Abstract

Ruthenium-catalyzed organic synthesis in aqueous media has attracted much attention recently. The applications of ruthenium in aqueous media are generally in atom-economical and environmentally benign reactions. In this review, our focus is on ruthenium-catalyzed C–C bond formations. Ruthenium-catalyzed activation of the C–H bond of allyl alcohol and tandem isomerization/aldol reaction are discussed. Also, through activation of the C–H bond of terminal alkynes, direct additions of alkynes to aldehydes and imines to give Grignard-type reaction products were realized in aqueous media. Various ruthenium-catalyzed nonmetathesis C–C formations in aqueous media, most of which were on the addition to alkynes, provided useful methodology for organic synthesis. In addition, ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis and ring-opening metathesis polymerization reactions in water are briefly overviewed.