Metal complex including tridentate aminodicarbene ligand and hydrogenation reduction method using same

Abstract

The use of a metal complex containing a ruthenium ion or an osmium ion, and a tridentate aminodicarbene ligand, the tridentate aminodicarbene ligand having one secondary amino group and two specific heterocyclic carbene groups sandwiching the amino group, enables hydrogenation reduction of carbonyl compounds, such as ketones, carboxylic acid esters, lactones, carboxylic acid amides, and lactams, and imine compounds under relatively mild conditions to produce corresponding alcohols, amines, and the like in a high yield with high catalytic efficiency. The metal complex is obtained by a method comprising steps of reacting a specific metal compound with a specific aminodicarbene precursor and subsequently reacting a specific compound. Reduction of a carbonyl compound or an imine compound in the presence of this metal complex using a hydrogen donor makes it possible to reduce the carbonyl compound or imine compound by hydrogenation.