RUTHENIUM COMPLEX-CATALYZED SELECTIVE DEOXYGENATION OF AMIDOXIMES TO AMIDINES AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE FACILE SYNTHESIS OF PYRIMIDINES

Ru3(CO)12 showed a high catalytic activity for the selective deoxygena tion of aromatic and N-heteroaromatic amidoximes to the corresponding amidines at 80-degrees-C for 5 h under carbon monoxide pressure (5 kg cm-2). For example, the deoxygenation of benzamidoxime afforded benzam idine in 82% yield. Furthermore, the present deoxygenation reaction of amidoximes catalyzed by Ru3(CO)12 was applied to the one-pot synthesi s of pyrimidine derivatives. When the deoxygenation of amidoximes was carried out in the presence of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds such as acetyl acetone, acetylacetophenone, and ethyl acetoacetate, the corresponding pyrimidine derivatives, which were the condensation products of the g enerated amidines with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, were obtained in up t o 93% yield.