The first synthesis of N-substituted lactams via an acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of diols with primary amines in one step was enabled by combining Ru3(CO)12 with a hybrid N-heterocyclic carbene–phosphine–phosphine ligand as the catalyst.
An alane/tris(phospine) ligand reacts with AgOTf by coordination of three phosphines to the Ag center and transfer of triflate to the tris(pyrrolyl) Al site. Reaction with Ag[HCB11Cl11] results in the...