Abstract
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•Efficient NH insertion reaction.•Reusable water-soluble Ru(II)-hm-pheox catalyst.•Ethyl glycinate products up to >99%.•Piperazinone in 95% yield.
A water-soluble Ru(II)-hm-pheox complex was efficiently catalyzed NH insertion of EDA with a broad class of amine derivatives in water/ether biphasic medium to deliver the biologically active precursors α-aminoester products with excellent yields (up to >99%). The products were separated by decantation and the catalyst was washed and reused several times (at least 8 times) without any specific loss of its catalytic activity. The plausible mechanism of the reaction was explained. Additionally, In case of ethylene diamine, the NH insertion product could be transformed to biological active piperazinone compound in high yield. The asymmetric version of this catalytic reaction is under investigation.