Fig. 5: Proposed mechanism for the alcohol-surrogated Grignard-type reaction.
From: Empowering alcohols as carbonyl surrogates for Grignard-type reactions
The proposed mechanism starts from the tetracoordinated ruthenium complex. Both the dehydrogenation step and a C–C bond formation step experience six-membered-ring transition states. Specifically, a active species to start the catalytic cycle; b six-membered-ring transition state for dehydrogenation; c ruthenium-hydride species after the dehydrogenation step; d transition state for 1,2-addition of hydrazone to carbonyl; e intermediate right after C–C bond formation; f intermediate after denitrogen which then followed by the formation of desired product.
