Efficient hydrogenation of alkenes using a highly active and reusable immobilised Ru complex on AlPO4

The homogeneous ruthenium complex [Ru^IICl₂(bpea)(PPh₃)], where bpea = N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine, has been immobilised on an amorphous AlPO₄ support through phosphamide bonds that are comparatively more stable than organosilane bonds. The catalyst was characterised by means of UV-vis and DRIFT and its activity was compared to that of the homogeneous complex in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of a range of alkenes. The heterogenized catalyst exhibited very good activities and excellent reusabilities (up to 25 runs) in the hydrogenation reaction.