A DETAILED STUDY OF THE HYDROGENATION OF NITRILE-BUTADIENE RUBBER ANDOTHER SUBSTRATES CATALYZED BY RU(II) COMPLEXES

Development of a computer controlled apparatus for measurement of gas uptake at elevated temperatures and pressures has made possible a stud y of the kinetics of NBR hydrogenation at conditions approaching those that are used in commercial operations. Complexes of the form Ru(X)Cl (CO)L-2 where X = H or beta-styryl (CH=CH(Ph)) and L is a bulky phosph ine such as tricyclohexyl- or triisopropyl-phosphine are excellent cat alysts for the hydrogenation of C=C in a variety of polymers and are s uperior to other Ru complexes for the hydrogenation of C=C in nitrile- butadiene rubber. This report describes comparative studies using thes e complexes for the hydrogenation of C=C in various polymer and small molecule substrates. Also presented are complete details of an in dept h mechanistic study into the hydrogenation of NBR catalyzed by the com plex Ru(CH=CH(Ph))Cl(CO)(PCy3)(2). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.