Ruthenium(II)-salen complexes-catalyzed olefination of aldehydes with ethyl diazoacetate

Several salen-ruthenium(II) complexes, which are derived from commercial ligands or simply ethylenediamine, can be successfully applied as catalysts for the olefination of a broad variety of aldehydes. Depending on the electron richness of the applied aldehydes, good to very good olefin yields and high E:Z selectivities are reached at 60 or 80°C reaction temperature with ethyl diazo acetate being the reaction partner. The reaction rate depends on the electron donor capabilities of the aldehydes. Electron poor aldehydes undergo faster reactions than electron rich aldehydes, but both electron rich and bulky aldehydes can be transformed to corresponding olefins in very good yields and high E-selectivity.