Highly Efficient Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols and Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones and Aldehydes Catalyzed by Ruthenium Complexes

A dicationic dichloro-bipyridine-ruthenium complex shows very high catalytic activity in redox isomerization of allylic alcohols but a relatively low one in transfer hydrogenation of ketones; surprisingly, the analogous dimethyl-bipyridine-ruthenium complex shows reverse catalytic activities in the two reactions.