Alkylation of cyclic amines with alcohols catalyzed by Ru(II) complexes bearing N-Heterocyclic carbenes

This paper includes the synthesis of 2-(1,3-dioxane-2-yl)ethyl substituted benzimidazole substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes precursors and their ruthenium complexes. Synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy. All complexes have been tested in the alkylation of pyrrolidine and morpholine with alcohols, showing an excellent activity in this reaction. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.