Chemoselective Formation of Unsymmetrically Substituted Ethers from Catalytic Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols in Aqueous Solution

A well-defined cationic Ru-H complex catalyzes reductive etherification of aldehydes and ketones with alcohols. The catalytic method employs environmentally benign water as the solvent and cheaply available molecular hydrogen as the reducing agent to afford unsymmetrical ethers in a highly chemoselective manner.