Dodecacarbonyltriruthenium catalysed carbonylation of amines and hydroamidation of olefins

Dodecacarbonyltriruthenium (Ru3(CO)12) is an effective homogeneous catalyst precursor for the carbonylation of amines and hydroamidation of olefins under a carbon monoxide pressure of 40 kg cm−2 at 120–180°C. By the carbonylation of benzylamine, N-benzylformamide was obtained in 77% yield. 1-Octene was hydroamidated with benzylamine to N-benzylnonanamide in 67% yield (the selectivity to its linear isomer was 81%). These reactions appear to include ruthenium carbamoyl complex as the common key intermediate.