Synthesis of Symmetrical Phenacyl Benzoate Derivatives via Ruthenium Hydride‎–‎Catalyzed C‎–‎C and sp2‎–‎C‎–‎O Bonds Formation under Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Conditions

In the present work, the catalytic activity of [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3] in the homogeneous form and also supported on graphene oxide nanosheets in the efficient synthesis of phenacyl benzoate derivatives by the reaction of aldehydes with diethyl 2‎–‎(ethoxymethylene)malonate (DEMM) via hydrogen transfer is reported. Under the same conditions, alcohols were also reacted with DEMM to provide a set of phenacyl benzoate derivatives in good to excellent yields. In these reactions, C‎–‎C and sp2‎–‎C‎–‎O bonds were formed by applying the ruthenium catalyst. While the homogeneous catalyst is not recoverable, the heterogeneous counterpart was reused several times without loss of its initial activity.