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

Complexes of formula [(HNO)TiCl] and [(HNO)Ti(OPr)] (HNOH = HOPh'CHNH(CH)NHCHPh'OH, where Ph' = 2,4-(CMePh)CH) were synthesized by the reaction of the salan ligand precursor HNOH with TiCl and Ti(OPr), respectively, in high yields. The dichlorido complex [(HNO)TiCl] 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.