The present invention relates to a novel phenonthroline based pincer complexes and process for preparation thereof. The present invention also provides a one pot process for the conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol in the presence of a molecularly defined pincer-type single-site Ru-catalyst and secondary amine. Further the present invention provides the use of phenonthroline based pincer complexes for the esterification of alcohols and hydrogenation of esters under mild conditions.

The present invention relates to a novel phenonthroline based pincer complexes and process for preparation thereof. The present invention also provides a one pot process for the conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol in the presence of a molecularly defined pincer-type single-site Ru-catalyst and secondary amine. Further the present invention provides the use of phenonthroline based pincer complexes for the esterification of alcohols and hydrogenation of esters under mild conditions.

The present invention relates to a method for the reductive amination of a carbonyl compound, comprising one or more carbonyl groups amenable to reductive amination, forming the corresponding primary amine, characterized in that the reaction is carried out in the presence of a homogeneously dissolved catalyst complex K, comprising at least one metal atom from Group 8, 9 or 10 of the periodic table, bearing a bidentate phosphane ligand, a carbonyl ligand, a neutral ligand and a hydride ligand, and also an acid as co-catalyst.

The present invention relates to a selective reduction of specific aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols.

The present invention relates to a process for hydrogenating a substrate including a carbon-heteroatom double bond, the process including the step of reacting the substrate with hydrogen gas in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst is a complex of formula (I): ##STR00001##
R.sub.1-10, A and Hal are as defined in the specification. The present invention also provides processes for the preparation of the complex of formula (I) and intermediates thereof.

A 4,4-divinylazoarylene-bridged diruthenium complex with a general formula [{Ru(CO)(L-?.sup.2[N,S].sup.?)(P.sup.iPr.sub.3).sub.2}.sub.2(?{CH?CHC.sub.6H.sub.2(.sup.iPr).sub.2-2,6}.sub.2N?N-4,4)], its synthesis, and its use as an catalyst in inorganic processes.

A 4,4-divinylazoarylene-bridged diruthenium complex bearing two Ru(CO)(2-mercaptoquinolato)(P.sup.iPr.sub.3).sub.2 moieties, its synthesis, and its use as a catalyst.

The present invention relates to a selective reduction of esters to their corresponding alcohols.

The present invention relates to the field of catalytic hydrogenation and, more particularly, to the use of Fe complexes with tridentate ligands, having one amino or imino coordinating group and two phosphino coordinating groups, in hydrogenation processes for the reduction of ketones or aldehydes, into the corresponding alcohol or diol, respectively.

A chemoselective process for producing alcohols from ,-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones is described.