A modular synthesis of Ru(II)-NHC-diamine complexes from readily available chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and chiral diamines is disclosed for the first time. The well-defined Ru(II)-NHC-diamine complexes show unique structure and coordination chemistry including an unusual tridentate coordination effect of 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine. The isolated air- and moisture-stable Ru(II)-NHC-diamine complexes act as versatile precatalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of isocoumarines, benzothiophene 1,1-dioxides, and ketones. Moreover, on the basis of the identification of reaction intermediates by stoichiometric reactions and NMR experiments, together with the DFT calculations, a possible catalytic cycle was proposed.

中文翻译：

---

配体合作指导的 Ru(II)-NHC-二胺预催化剂的设计：不对称加氢的应用和机理研究

首次公开了从容易获得的手性 N-杂环卡宾 (NHC) 和手性二胺中模块化合成 Ru(II)-NHC-二胺配合物。明确定义的 Ru(II)-NHC-二胺配合物显示出独特的结构和配位化学，包括 1,2-二苯基乙二胺的不寻常的三齿配位效应。分离出的空气和水分稳定的 Ru(II)-NHC-二胺配合物可作为异香豆素、苯并噻吩 1,1-二氧化物和酮的不对称氢化的通用预催化剂。此外，在化学计量反应和核磁共振实验鉴定反应中间体的基础上，结合DFT计算，提出了可能的催化循环。