Ruthenium(II) Terdentate CNN Complexes: Superlative Catalysts for the Hydrogen-Transfer Reduction of Ketones by Reversible Insertion of a Carbonyl Group into the Ru-H Bond

A terdentate pyridine ligand is well suited for a modular synthetic approach, which allows for a fine tuning of the stereoelectronic properties of the CNN complexes: this new class of ruthenium derivatives holds the promise for a broad application in organometallic chemistry and in homogeneous asymmetric catalysis.