Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenolysis of the C–O bond: the selective reduction of cyclic carboxylic acid anhydrides to γ-lactones catalysed by [RuCl2(Ph3P)3]
Abstract
[RuCl2(Ph3P)3] is an efficient catalyst for the selective partial hydrogenation of carboxylic acid anhydrides; γ-lactones are formed from succinic and phthalic anhydrides.