# Selective Hydrogenation of Heteroarenes Using Supported Ruthenium Phosphide Nanoparticle Catalysts

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new catalyst for selectively hydrogenating heteroarenes into aromatic compounds, useful for making drugs and chemicals.

## Contribution

A novel ruthenium phosphide nanoparticle catalyst on ionic liquid phases is developed for selective hydrogenation.

## Key findings

- The catalyst is highly active, selective, and robust under batch and continuous flow conditions.
- The Ru50P50@SILP variant enables the synthesis of valuable drug molecules and useful synthons.

## Abstract

The selective hydrogenation
of heteroarenes, including
quinolines,
indoles, benzofurans, and benzothiophenes, to the corresponding aromatic
compounds is enabled by ruthenium phosphide nanoparticles on imidazolium-based
supported ionic liquid phases, Ru
x
P100–x
@SILP, as catalysts. The organometallic
approach to the synthesis and immobilization of ruthenium phosphide
nanoparticles (NPs) allows preparation under mild wet-chemistry conditions
and systematic variation of the Ru/P ratio. The novel materials are
characterized using various techniques, including electron microscopy
and X-ray spectroscopies, and are found to be highly active, selective,
and robust for application under batch and continuous flow conditions.
The synthetic potential of Ru50P50@SILP as the
most promising catalyst is demonstrated for a wide variety of substrates,
enabling the synthesis of valuable drug molecules (e.g., cuspareine
and salsolidine) and providing access to useful synthons including
isotope labeling for fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.