Synthesis and Application of New Salan Titanium Complexes in the Catalytic Reduction of Aldehydes

Complexes of formula [(H(2)N(2)O(2))TiCl(2)] and [(H(2)N(2)O(2))Ti(O(i)Pr)(2)] (H(2)N(2)O(2)H(2) = HOPh’CH(2)NH(CH(2))(2)NHCH(2)Ph’OH, where Ph’ = 2,4-(CMe(2)Ph)C(6)H(2)) were synthesized by the reaction of the salan ligand precursor H(2)N(2)O(2)H(2) with TiCl(4) and Ti(O(i)Pr)(4), respectively, in high yields. The dichlorido complex [(H(2)N(2)O(2))TiCl(2)] revealed to be an efficient catalyst for the reduction of benzaldehyde in toluene. Full conversion was observed after 24 h at 55 °C in THF. The same catalyst also converted phenylacetaldehyde and hydrocinnamaldehyde into the corresponding alkanes quantitatively.