Ru clusters anchored on N-doped porous carbon-alumina matrix as efficient catalyst toward primary amines via reductive amination

Efficient synthesis of primary amines via reductive amination from carbonyl compounds using NH3 and H2 as nitrogen and hydrogen sources is promising and challenging. Herein, we reported the ultrasmall Ru clusters bonded to the nitrogen atoms encapsulated in nitrogen-dopped carbon layers supported on alumina (Ru@NC-Al2O3) derived from metalated Al-MOF containing atomically dispersed Ru species, which served as highly active, selective, and reusable catalyst for the facile synthesis of primary amines. A series of carbonyl compounds including aliphatic and aryl ketones or aldehydes were converted to their corresponding primary amines under mild conditions. The excellent catalytic performance was attributed to the Ru-N coordination which could help to stabilize the Ru species and prevent their aggregation and leaching, and also ascribed to the proper Ru0 percentage that was facilitate the hydrogenation step, as well as originated from the Lewis acid sites that was beneficial to the activation of C=N bond in intermediates.