Direct Hydrogenation of a Broad Range of Amides under Base‐free Conditions using an Efficient and Selective Ruthenium (II) Pincer Catalyst

The ruthenium(II) complex, [fac‐PNHN]RuH(η1‐BH4)(CO) (B; PNHN=8‐(2‐diphenylphosphinoethyl)aminotrihydroquinoline), is a highly versatile and effective catalyst (loadings of 0.1–1 mol %) for the hydrogenation of a multitude of amides, which include primary, secondary, and tertiary amides, to give their corresponding alcohols and amines in high yields under base‐free conditions. All products were confirmed by using GC and GC–MS.