Theoretical investigation on regioselectivity of aromatic ketones in the addition with olefin catalyzed by RuH2(CO)(PPh3)3

Ab initio method is employed to study the structures of twelve aromatic ketones at HF/3-21G, HF/6-31G and HF/6-31G* levels, respectively. A theoretical analysis is also carried out to study the regioselectivity and reactivity of aromatic ketones in the addition with olefin catalyzed by RuH₂(CO)(PPh₃)₃. The results indicate that a U shape LUMO conjugation of aromatic ketones in a plane plays an important role in regioselectivity on the cleavage of β C-H bond and is a necessary factor to success of addition with olefin, and that steric effect is an indispensable factor in forming additional ortho-product. Meanwhile, electronic effect may influence the rate of addition for the structures alike which only have different replacements in the same site of aromatic ring, such as furan, thiophene and pyrole. A possible catalytic reaction mechanism is proposed that the addition of C-H bond may be carried out by a coordination of aromatic ketones with Ru complex.