Cyclometallation of arylimines and nitrogen-containing heterocycles via room-temperature C-H bond activation with arene ruthenium(ii) acetate complexes

The reaction of [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) with arylimines and 4 equiv. of KOAc in methanol at room temperature produces stable (N^C)-cyclometallated ruthenium(ii) complexes via C-H bond activation/deprotonation. This method can be applied also to nitrogen-containing molecules: N-phenylpyrazole, 2-phenyl-2-oxazoline and benzo[h]quinoline. N-Phenyl-pyrazole, [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) and diphenylacetylene directly lead to alkyne insertion into the metallacycle C-Ru bond.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes containing bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether and their catalytic activity in hydrogenation reactions

The half-sandwich complexes [(eta5-C5H5)RuCl(DPEphos)] (1) and [{(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2}2(mu-DPEphos)] (2) were synthesized by the reaction of bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether (DPEphos) with a mixture of ruthenium trichloride trihydrate and cyclopentadiene and with [(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2]2, respectively. Treatment of DPEphos with cis-[RuCl2(dmso)4] afforded fac-[RuCl2(kappa3-P,O,P-DPEphos)(dmso)] (3). The dmso ligand in 3 can be substituted by pyridine, 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-bipyridine, and PPh3 to yield trans,cis-[RuCl2(DPEphos)(C5H5N)2] (4), cis,cis-[RuCl2(DPEphos)(2,2'-bipyridine)] (5), trans,cis-[RuCl2(DPEphos)(mu-4,4'-bipyridine)]n (6), and mer,trans-[RuCl2(kappa3-P,P,O-DPEphos)(PPh3)] (7), respectively. Refluxing [(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2]2 with DPEphos in moist acetonitrile leads to the elimination of the p-cymene group and the formation of the octahedral complex cis,cis-[RuCl2(DPEphos)(H2O)(CH3CN)] (8). The structures of the complexes 1-5, 7, and 8 are confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic activity of these complexes for the hydrogenation of styrene is studied.     

RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) on carbon: an efficient,selective, reusable,and environmentally versatile heterogeneous catalyst

[reaction: see text] A heterogeneous ruthenium catalyst, easily prepared by adsorption of [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) on activated carbon, exhibited a highly efficient and selective catalytic activity in various environmentally attractive transformations such as aerobic oxidation, hydrolytic oxidation, and dehydration processes with excellent recyclability.     

Arene-ruthenium complexes with salicyloxazolines: diastereoselective synthesis, configurational stability and applications as asymmetric catalysts for Diels-Alder reactions

Reaction of the dimers [RuCl2(eta6-arene)]2 (arene = benzene, p-cymene, mesitylene) with salicyloxazolines in the presence of NaOMe gives complexes [RuCl(R-saloxaz)(arene)] (1-5) which have been fully characterised. Complexes [RuL(iPr-saloxaz)(mes)]Y (L = py, 2-Mepy, 4-Mepy; PPh3; Y- = SbF6 or BPh4) 6-9 were prepared by treating the chloride 2a with ligand L and NaY (Y- = SbF6 or BPh4) in methanol at reflux. Halide complexes [RuX(iPr-saloxaz)(mes)](X = Br, 10; X = I, 11) were synthesised by treating 2a with AgSbF6 then with 1.2 equivalents of KBr or NaI, the methyl complex [RuMe(iPr-saloxaz)(mes)] 12 was synthesised from 2a by reaction with MeLi. Five complexes, [RuCl(iPr-saloxaz)(mes)] 2a, [RuCl(tBu-saloxaz)(p-cymene)] 3b, [RuCl(Ph-saloxaz)(mes)] 5a, [Ru(4-Mepy)(iPr-saloxaz)(mes)][SbF6] 7, and [Ru(PPh3)(iPr-saloxaz)(mes)][SbF6] 9, have been characterised by X-ray crystallography. Treatment of complexes 1-5 with AgSbF6 gives cationic species which are enantioselective catalysts for the Diels-Alder reaction of acroleins with cyclopentadiene, the effect of substituents on enantioselectivity has been examined.     

Synthesis and intramolecular and interionic structural characterization of half-sandwich (arene)ruthenium(II) derivatives of bis(pyrazolyl)alkanes

Arene ruthenium(II) complexes containing bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands have been prepared by reacting the ligands L' (L' in general; specifically L(1) = H(2)C(pz)(2), L(2) = H(2)C(pz(Me2))(2), L(3) = H(2)C(pz(4Me))(2), L(4) = Me(2)C(pz)(2) and L(5) = Et(2)C(pz)(2) where pz = pyrazole) with [(arene)RuCl(mu-Cl)](2) dimers (arene = p-cymene or benzene). When the reaction was carried out in methanol solution, complexes of the type [(arene)Ru(L')Cl]Cl were obtained. When L(1), L(2), L(3), and L(5) ligands reacted with excess [(arene)RuCl(mu-Cl)](2), [(arene)Ru(L')Cl][(arene)RuCl(3)] species have been obtained, whereas by using the L(4) ligand under the same reaction conditions the unexpected [(p-cymene)Ru(pzH)(2)Cl]Cl complex was recovered. The reaction of 1 equiv of [(p-cymene)Ru(L')Cl]Cl and of [(p-cymene)Ru(pzH)(2)Cl]Cl with 1 equiv of AgX (X = O(3)SCF(3) or BF(4)) in methanol afforded the complexes [(p-cymene)Ru(L')Cl](O(3)SCF(3)) (L' = L(1) or L(2)) and [(p-cymene)Ru(pzH)(2)Cl]BF(4), respectively. [(p-cymene)Ru(L(1))(H(2)O)][PF(6)](2) formed when [(p-cymene)Ru(L(1))Cl]Cl reacts with an excess of AgPF(6). The solid-state structures of the three complexes, [(p-cymene)Ru{H(2)C(pz)(2)}Cl]Cl, [(p-cymene)Ru{H(2)Cpz(4Me))(2)}Cl]Cl, and [(p-cymene)Ru{H(2)C(pz)(2)}Cl](O(3)SCF(3)), were determined by X-ray crystallographic studies. The interionic structure of [(p-cymene)Ru(L(1))Cl](O(3)SCF(3)) and [(p-cymene)Ru(L')Cl][(p-cymene)RuCl(3)] (L' = L(1) or L(2)) was investigated through an integrated experimental approach based on NOE and pulsed field gradient spin-echo (PGSE) NMR experiments in CD(2)Cl(2) as a function of the concentration. PGSE NMR measurements indicate the predominance of ion pairs in solution. NOE measurements suggest that (O(3)SCF(3))(-) approaches the cation orienting itself toward the CH(2) moiety of the L(1) (H(2)C(pz)(2)) ligand as found in the solid state. Selected Ru species have been preliminarily investigated as catalysts toward styrene oxidation by dihydrogen peroxide, [(p-cymene)Ru(L(1))(H(2)O)][PF(6)](2) being the most active species.     

Eta6-mesityl,eta1-imidazolinylidene-carbene-ruthenium(II) complexes: catalytic activity of their allenylidene derivatives in alkene metathesis and cycloisomerisation reactions

The reaction of electron-rich carbene-precursor olefins containing two imidazolinylidene moieties [(2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2)CH(2))NCH(2)CH(2)N(R)Cdbond;](2) (2a: R=CH(2)CH(2)OMe, 2 b R=CH(2)Mes), bearing at least one 2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl (R=CH(2)Mes) group on the nitrogen atom, with [RuCl(2)(arene)](2) (arene=p-cymene, hexamethylbenzene) selectively leads to two types of complexes. The cleavage of the chloride bridges occurs first to yield the expected (carbene) (arene)ruthenium(II) complex 3. Then a further arene displacement reaction takes place to give the chelated eta(6)-mesityl,eta(1)-carbene-ruthenium complexes 4 and 5. An analogous eta(6)-arene,eta(1)-carbene complex with a benzimidazole frame 6 was isolated from an in situ reaction between [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2), the corresponding benzimidazolium salt and cesium carbonate. On heating, the RuCl(2)(imidazolinylidene) (p-cymene) complex 8, with p-methoxybenzyl pendent groups attached to the N atoms, leads to intramolecular p-cymene displacement and to the chelated eta(6)-arene,eta(1)-carbene complex 9. On reaction with AgOTf and the propargylic alcohol HCtbond;CCPh(2)OH, compounds 4-6 were transformed into the corresponding ruthenium allenylidene intermediates (4-->10, 5-->11, 6-->12). The in situ generated intermediates 10-12 were found to be active and selective catalysts for ring-closing metathesis (RCM) or cycloisomerisation reactions depending on the nature of the 1,6-dienes. Two complexes [RuCl(2)[eta(1)-CN(CH(2)C(6)H(2)Me(3)-2,4,6)CH(2)CH(2)N- (CH(2)CH(2)OMe)](C(6)Me(6))] 3 with a monodentate carbene ligand and [RuCl(2)[eta(1)-CN[CH(2)(eta(6)-C(6)H(2)Me(3)-2,4,6)]CH(2)CH(2)N-(CH(2)C(6)H(2)Me(3)-2,4,6)]] 5 with a chelating carbene-arene ligand were characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

Binucleating behaviour of a proximally-diphosphinated calix[4]arene

The long diphosphine 5,11-diphenylphosphanyl-25,26-dipropyloxy-27,28-bis(2-propenyloxy) calix[4]arene (cone) (5), in which the two phosphorus atoms are separated by a semi-rigid linking unit, was prepared in four steps starting from calix[4]arene. Reaction of 5 with AuCl(SEt(2)) or [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) led to calixarenes bearing two metallated pendant arms, [5·(AuCl)(2)] and [5·{RuCl(2)(p-cymene)}(2)], respectively. In the presence of AgBF(4) or [Ni(C(5)H(5))(1,5-cyclooctadiene)]BF(4), diphosphine 5 displayed a marked tendency to form oligomeric material, but under high dilution conditions dimeric species were obtained selectively. The inability of 5 to form chelate complexes was further illustrated by its reaction with [PdCl(2)(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(2)], which led quantitatively to a rare complex in which a diphosphine spans across the dinuclear [PdCl(μ-Cl)(2)PdCl] unit.     

Water-soluble ruthenium(II) catalysts [RuCl2(eta6-arene)[P(CH2OH)3]] for isomerization of allylic alcohols and alkyne hydration

The novel water-soluble ruthenium(II) complexes [RuCl(2)(eta(6)-arene)[P(CH(2)OH)(3)]]2a-c and [RuCl(eta(6)-arene)[P(CH(2)OH)(3)](2)][Cl]3a-c have been prepared in high yields by reaction of dimers [[Ru(eta(6)-arene)(micro-Cl)Cl](2)](arene = C(6)H(6)1a, p-cymene 1b, C(6)Me(6)1c) with two or four equivalents of P(CH(2)OH)(3), respectively. Complexes 2/3a-c are active catalysts in the redox isomerization of several allylic alcohols into the corresponding saturated carbonyl compounds under water/n-heptane biphasic conditions. Among them, the neutral derivatives [RuCl(2)(eta(6)-C(6)H(6))[P(CH(2)OH)(3)]]2a and [RuCl(2)(eta(6)-p-cymene)[P(CH(2)OH)(3)]]2b show the highest activities (TOF values up to 600 h(-1); TON values up to 782). Complexes 2/3a-c also catalyze the hydration of terminal alkynes.     

Insertion reactions of GaCp*, InCp* and In[C(SiMe3)3] into the Ru-Cl bonds of [(p-cymene)RuIICl2]2 and [Cp*RuIICl]4

The first carbonyl free ruthenium/low valent Group 13 organyl complexes are presented, obtained by insertion of ER (ER = GaCp*, InCp*, In[C(SiMe(3))(3)]) into the Ru-Cl bonds of [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2, [Cp*RuCl]4 and [Cp*RuCl2]2. The compound [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 reacts with GaCp*, giving a variety of isolated products depending on the reaction conditions. The Ru-Ru dimers [{(p-cymene)Ru}2(GaCp*)4(mu3-Cl)2] and the intermediate [{(p-cymene)Ru}2(mu-Cl)2] were isolated, as well as monomeric complexes [(p-cymene)Ru(GaCp*)3Cl2], [(p-cymene)Ru(GaCp*)2GaCl3] and [(p-cymene)Ru(GaCp*)2Cl2(DMSO)]. The reaction of [Cp*RuCl]4 with ER gives "piano-stool" complexes of the type [Cp*Ru(ER)3Cl](ER = InCp*, In[C(SiMe3)3], GaCp*. The chloride ligand in complex can be removed by NaBPh4, yielding [Cp*Ru(GaCp*)3]+[BPh4]-. The reaction of [Cp*RuCl2]2 with GaCp* however, does not lead to an insertion product, but to the ionic Ru(II) complex [Cp*Ru(GaCp*)3]+[Cp*GaCl3]-. The ER ligands in complexes 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are equivalent on the NMR timescale in solution due to a chloride exchange between the three Group 13 atoms even at low temperatures. The solid state structures, however, exhibit a different structural pattern. The chloride ligands exhibit two coordination modes: either terminal or bridging. The new compounds are fully characterized including single crystal X-ray diffraction. These results point out the different reactivities of the two precursors and the nature of the neutral p-cymene and the anionic Cp* ligand when bonding to a Ru(II) centre.     

Retention of regiochemistry and chirality in the ruthenium catalyzed allylic alkylation of disubstituted allylic esters

The regiospecific nucleophilic substitution during the ruthenium catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-unsymmetrical disubstituted allylic esters was demonstrated. The nucleophile was selectively introduced at the position originally substituted with leaving group in the 2-DPPBA or ip-pybox ligated [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-unsymmetrical disubstituted allylic esters. The chirality of the optically active allylic esters was also transferred to the alkylated products.     

Development of a method for the preparation of ruthenium indenylidene-ether olefin metathesis catalysts

The reactions between several derivatives of 1-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-prop-2-yn-1-ol and different ruthenium starting materials [i.e., RuCl?(PPh?)? and RuCl?(p-cymene)(L), where L is tricyclohexylphosphine di-t-butylmethylphosphine, dicyclohexylphenylphosphine, triisobutylphosphine, triisopropylphosphine, or tri-n-propylphosphine] are described. Several of these reactions allow for the easy, in-situ and atom-economic preparation of olefin metathesis catalysts. Organic precursor 1-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-prop-2-yn-1-ol led to the formation of active ruthenium indenylidene-ether complexes, while 1-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-prop-2-yn-1-ol and 1-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-prop-2-yn-1-ol did not. It was also found that a bulky and strong σ-donor phosphine ligand was required to impart good catalytic activity to the new ruthenium complexes.     

Carbene vs olefin products of C-H activation on ruthenium via competing alpha- and beta-H elimination

Bulky pincer complexes of ruthenium are capable of C-H activation and H-elimination from the pincer ligand backbone to produce mixtures of olefin and carbene products. To characterize the products and determine the mechanisms of the C-H cleavage, reactions of [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) with N,N'-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)-1,3-diaminopropane (L1) and 1,3-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)cyclohexane (L2) were studied using a combination of X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and DFT computational techniques. The reaction of L1 afforded a mixture of an alkylidene, a Fischer carbene, and two olefin isomers of the 16-e monohydride RuHCl[(t)Bu(2)PNHC(3)H(4)NHPBu(t)(2)] (2), whereas the reaction of L2 gave two olefin and two alkylidene isomers of 16-e RuHCl[2,6-(CH(2)PBu(t)(2))(2)C(6)H(8)] (3), all resulting from dehydrogenations of the ligand backbone of L1 and L2. The key intermediates implicated in the C-H activation reactions were identified as 14-electron paramagnetic species RuCl(PCP), where PCP = cyclometalated L1 or L2. Thus the alpha- and beta-H elimination reactions of RuCl(PCP) involved spin change and were formally spin-forbidden. Hydrogenation of 2 and 3 afforded 16-electron dihydrides RuH(2)Cl(PCP) distinguished by a large quantum exchange coupling between the hydrides.     

Diastereospecific and diastereoselective syntheses of Ruthenium(II) complexes using N,N' bidentate ligands aryl-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-amine ArNH-CH2-2-C5H4N and their oxidation to imine ligands

Coordination of N,N' bidentate ligands aryl-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-amine ArNH-CH2-2-C5H4N 1 (Ar = 4-CH3-C6H4, 1a; 4-CH3O-C6H4, 1b; 2,6-(CH3)2-C6H3, 1c; 4-CF3-C6H4, 1d) to the moieties [Ru(bipy)2]2+, [Ru(eta5-C5H5)L]+ (L = CH3CN, CO), or [Ru(eta6-arene)Cl]2+ (arene = benzene, p-cymene) occurs under diastereoselective or diastereospecific conditions. Detailed stereochemical analysis of the new complexes is included. The coordination of these secondary amine ligands activates their oxidation to imines by molecular oxygen in a base-catalyzed reaction and hydrogen peroxide was detected as byproduct. The amine-to-imine oxidation was also observed under the experimental conditions of cyclic voltammetry measurements. Deprotonation of the coordinated amine ligands afforded isolatable amido complexes only for the ligand (1-methyl-1-pyridin-2-yl-ethyl)-p-tolyl-amine, 1e, which doesn't contain hydrogen atoms in a beta position relative to the N-H bond. The structures of [Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)2(1b)](PF6)2, 2b; [Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)(2)(1c)](PF6)2, 2c; trans-[RuCl2(COD)(1a)], 3; and [RuCl2(eta6-C6H6)(1a)]PF6, 4a, have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Variable coordination of amine functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene ligands to Ru, Rh and Ir: C-H and N-H activation and catalytic transfer hydrogenation

Chelating amine and amido complexes of late transition metals are highly valuable bifunctional catalysts in organic synthesis, but complexes of bidentate amine-NHC and amido-NHC ligands are scarce. Hence, we report the reactions of a secondary-amine functionalised imidazolium salt 2a and a primary-amine functionalised imidazolium salt 2b with [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2) and [Cp*MCl(2)](2) (M = Rh, Ir). Treating 2a with [Cp*MCl(2)](2) and NaOAc gave the cyclometallated compounds Cp*M(C,C)I (M = Rh, 3; M = Ir, 4), resulting from aromatic C-H activation. In contrast, treating 2b with [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2), Ag(2)O and KI gave the amine-NHC complex [(p-cymene)Ru(C,NH(2))I]I (5). The reaction of 2b with [Cp*MCl(2)](2) (M = Rh, Ir), NaO(t)Bu and KI gave the amine-NHC complex [Cp*Rh(NH(2))I]I (6) or the amido-NHC complex Cp*Ir(C,NH)I (7); both protonation states of the Ir complex could be accessed: treating 7 with trifluoroacetic acid gave the amine-NHC complex [Cp*Ir(C,NH(2))I][CF(3)CO(2)] (8). These are the first primary amine- or amido-NHC complexes of Rh and Ir. Solid-state structures of the complexes 3-8 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 5, 6 and 7 are pre-catalysts for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol, with ruthenium complex 5 demonstrating especially high reactivity.     

Ruthenium complexes of 2-[(4-(arylamino)phenyl)azo]pyridine formed via regioselective phenyl ring amination of coordinated 2-(phenylazo)pyridine: isolation of products,X-ray structure,and redox and optical properties

Aromatic ring amination reactions in the ruthenium complex of 2-(phenylazo)pyridine is described. The substitutionally inert cationic brown complex [Ru(pap)(3)](ClO(4))(2) (1) (pap = 2-(phenylazo)pyridine) reacts smoothly with aromatic amines neat and in the presence of air to produce cationic and intense blue complexes [Ru(HL(2))(3)](ClO(4))(2) (2) (HL(2) = 2-[(4-(arylamino)phenyl)azo]pyridine). These were purified on a preparative TLC plate. The X-ray structure of the new and representative complex 2c has been solved to characterize them. The results are compared with those of the starting complex, [Ru(pap)(3)](ClO(4))(2) (1). The transformation 1 --> 2 involves aromatic ring amination at the para carbon (with respect to the diazo function) of the pendant phenyl rings of all three coordinated pap ligands in 1. The transformation is stereoretentive, and the amination reaction is regioselective. The extended ligand HL(2) coordinates as a bidentate ligand and chelates to ruthenium(II) through the pyridine and one of the azo nitrogens. The amine nitrogen of this bears a hydrogen atom and remains uncoordinated. Similarly, the amination reaction on the mixed-ligand complex [Ru(pap)(bpy)(2)](ClO(4))(2) produces the blue complex [Ru(HL(2))(bpy)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (3) as anticipated. The reactions of [RuCl(2)(dmso)(4)] and [Ru(S)(2)(L)(2)](2+) (dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide, S = labile coordinated solvent, L = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and pap) with the preformed HL(2) ligand have been explored. The structure of the representative complex [RuCl(2)(HL(2a))(2)] (5a) is reported. It has the chlorides in trans configuration while the pyridine as well as azo nitrogens are in cis geometry. Optical spectra and redox properties of the newly synthesized complexes are reported. All the ruthenium complexes of HL(2) are characterized by their intense blue solution colors. The lowest energy transitions in these complexes appear near 600 nm, which have been attributed to intraligand charge-transfer transitions. For example, the lowest energy visible range transition in [Ru(HL(2b))(3)](2+) appears at 602 nm and its intensity is 65 510 M(-1) cm(-1). All the tris chelates show multiple-step electron-transfer processes. In [Ru(HL(2))(3)](2+), six reductions waves constitute the complete electron-transfer series. The electrons are believed to be added successively to the three azo functions. In the mixed-ligand chelates [Ru(HL(2))(pap)(2)](2+) and [Ru(HL(2))(bpy)(2)](2+) the reductions due to HL(2), pap, and bpy are observed.     

An acid-catalyzed macrolactonization protocol

[reaction: see text] An efficient macrolactonization protocol devoid of any base was developed derived from the use of vinyl esters in transesterification. Subjecting a hydroxy acid and ethoxyacetylene to 2 mol % [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) in toluene followed by addition of camphorsulfonic acid or inverse addition provided macrolactones in good yields.     

Two-photon absorption of Zn(II) octupolar molecules

In this work we present an investigation of the non-linear optical (NLO) properties of two octupolar chromophores: [Zn(4,4'-bis(dibutylaminostyryl)-[2,2']-bipyridine)(3)](2+) and [Zn(4,4'-bis((E)-2-(N-(TEG)pyrrol-2-yl)vinyl)-[2,2']-bipyridine)(3)](2+) with Zn(ii) as the coordination center, using two-photon emission technique (TPE) in fs-pulse temporal regime. Compared to the free ligands, our results do not show a net increase in the two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-section for the octupolar complexes, once normalized to the ligand unit. This is in partial disagreement with a previous theoretical study investigating the first molecule where a significant increase of the TPA cross-section was predicted (X. J. Liu, et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2004, 120, 11 493).     

Controlled assembly of ruthenium complexes through ortho-carborane dithiolate and polysulfide ligands

Treatment of ortho-carborane, n-butyl lithium, sulfur, and [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2) in varying ratio led to four new compounds (p-cymene)Ru[S(3)(C(2)B(10)H(10))(2)] (3), [(p-cymene)Ru(2)(μ(2)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9))(μ(3)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10))](2) (4), [(p-cymene)Ru](2)Ru(μ(2)-η(2):η(2)-S(2)) (μ(2)-η(2):η(1)-S(2)Cl)(μ(2)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (5), and [(p-cymene)Ru](2)Ru(μ(2)-η(1):η(1)-S(2))(μ(3)-η(2):η(2)-S(4)) (μ(2)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (6), respectively. In 3, the ruthenium atom is coordinated by three S atoms from a in situ generated tridentate [S(3)(C(2)B(10)H(10))(2)](2-) ligand. 4 consists of two identical dinuclear (p-cymene)Ru(2)(μ(2)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9))(μ(3)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10)) subunits which connect to each other via the Ru-Ru bond and two bridging o-carborane-1,2-dithiolate ligands. In 4, a Ru-B bond is present. 5 contains a Ru(3)(μ(2)-S)(2)(μ(2)-S(2))(μ(2)-S(2)Cl) core, and the central ruthenium atom is coordinated by seven S atoms in a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. In 5, a S-Cl bond is generated. 6 has a novel Ru(3)(μ(2)-S)(2)(μ(2)-S(2))(μ(3)-S(4)) core, and the three ruthenium atoms are connected through the two terminal sulfur atoms of the S-S-S-S chain in a μ(3) binding fashion. All the four complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass, NMR, and X-ray crystallography.     

Syntheses, characterization, and catalytic ability in alkane oxygenation of chloro(dimethyl sulfoxide)ruthenium(II) complexes with tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and its derivatives

New ruthenium(II) complexes having a tetradentate ligand such as tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA), tris[2-(5-methoxycarbonyl)pyridylmethyl]amine [5-(MeOCO)3-TPA], tris(2-quinolylmethyl)amine (TQA), or bis(2-pyridylmethyl)glycinate (BPG) have been prepared. The reaction of the ligand with [RuCl2(Me2SO)4] resulted in a mixture of trans and cis isomers of the chloro(dimethyl sulfoxide-kappaS)ruthenium(II) complexes containing a TPA or a BPG, whereas a trans(Cl,N(amino)) isomer was selectively obtained for 5-(MeOCO)3-TPA and TQA. The trans and cis isomers of the [RuCl(TPA)(Me2SO)]+ complex were easily separated by fractional recrystallization. The molecular structures of trans- and cis(Cl,N(amino))-[RuCl(TPA)(Me2SO)]+ complexes and the trans(Cl,N(amino))-[RuCl{5-(MeOCO)3-TPA}(Me2SO)]+ complex have been determined by X-ray structural analyses. The reaction of TPA with [RuCl2(PhCN)4] gave a single isomer of the chloro(benzonitrile)ruthenium(II) complex, whereas the bis(benzonitrile)ruthenium(II) complex was obtained with BPG. The cis(Cl,N(amino))-[RuCl(TPA)(Me2SO)]+ complex is thermodynamically much less stable than the trans isomer and isomerizes in dimethyl sulfoxide at 65-100 degrees C. Oxygenation of alkanes catalyzed by these ruthenium(II) complexes has been examined. The chloro(dimethyl sulfoxide-kappaS)ruthenium(II) complexes with TPA and its derivatives using m-chloroperbenzoic acid as a cooxidant showed high catalytic ability. Adamantane was efficiently and selectively oxidized to give 1-adamantanol up to 88%. The chloro(dimethyl sulfoxide-kappaS)ruthenium(II) complex with 5-(MeOCO)3-TPA was found to be the most active catalyst among the complexes examined.     

The use of 1,2-dipiperidinoacetylene for the preparation of monometallic diaminoacetylene and homo- or heterobimetallic diaminodicarbene ruthenium(II) complexes

The reaction of the ynediamine 1,2-dipiperidinoacetylene (1) with [(η(2)-COE)Cr(CO)(5)], [(THF)W(CO)(5)] and [RuCl(2)(η(6)-cymene)](2) afforded homobimetallic complexes 2a, 2b and 3, in which the diaminoacetylene 1 acts as a bis(aminocarbene) ligand by bridging two complex fragments Cr(CO)(5) (in 2a), W(CO)(5) (in 2b) and RuCl(2)(η(6)-cymene) (in 3). The reaction of 1 with [RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(3)] gave trans-[(1)RuCl(PPh(3))(2)]Cl, [4]Cl, in which the alkyne 1 coordinates as a 4-electron donor ligand. The cation 4 represents a rare example of a square-planar Ru(II) complex with a low-spin ground state (S = 0), and its stability can be ascribed to the strong alkyne-metal π-interaction as confirmed by DFT calculations. Treatment with one or two equivalents of NaBPh(4) in acetonitrile gave [4]BPh(4) and the dicationic [(1)Ru(PPh(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)](BPh(4))(2), [5](BPh(4))(2). [4]Cl can be used for the preparation of heterobimetallic Ru-Pd bis(aminocarbene) complexes by reaction with [(MeCN)(2)PdCl(2)], resulting in the formation of bimetallic 6 and tetrametallic 7.