Hydrogen liberation from the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane at room temperature by using a novel ruthenium nanocatalyst

Herein we report the discovery of an in situ generated, highly active nanocatalyst for the room temperature dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane in water. The new catalyst system consisting of ruthenium(0) nanoparticles stabilized by the hydrogenphosphate anion can readily and reproducibly be formed under in situ conditions from the dimethylamine-borane reduction of a ruthenium(III) precatalyst in tetrabutylammonium dihydrogenphosphate solution at 25 ± 0.1 °C. These new water dispersible ruthenium nanoparticles were characterized by using a combination of advanced analytical techniques. The results show the formation of well-dispersed ruthenium(0) nanoparticles of 2.9 ± 0.9 nm size stabilized by the hydrogenphosphate anion in aqueous solution. The resulting ruthenium(0) nanoparticles act as a highly active catalyst in the generation of 3.0 equiv. of H(2) from the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane with an initial TOF value of 500 h(-1) at 25 ± 0.1 °C. Moreover, they provide exceptional catalytic lifetime (TTO = 11,600) in the same reaction at room temperature. The work reported here also includes the following results; (i) monitoring the formation kinetics of the in situ generated ruthenium nanoparticles, by using the hydrogen generation from the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane as a catalytic reporter reaction, shows that sigmoidal kinetics of catalyst formation and concomitant dehydrogenation fits well to the two-step, slow nucleation and then autocatalytic surface growth mechanism, A → B (rate constant k(1)) and A + B → 2B (rate constant k(2)), in which A is RuCl(3)·3H(2)O and B is the growing, catalytically active Ru(0)(n) nanoclusters. (ii) Hg(0) poisoning coupled with activity measurements after solution infiltration demonstrates that the in situ generated ruthenium(0) nanoparticles act as a kinetically competent heterogeneous catalyst in hydrogen generation from the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane. (iii) A compilation of kinetic data depending on the temperature and catalyst concentration is used to determine the dependency of reaction rate on catalyst concentration and the activation energy of the reaction, respectively.     

Ruthenium Complex-Controlled Catalytic N-Mono- or N,N-Dialkylation of Heteroaromatic Amines with Alcohols

Heteroaromatic amines were N-alkylated with primary alcohols at 150-200 degrees C in the presence of a catalytic amount of various ruthenium complexes to give the corresponding monoalkylated and dialkylated amines in good to high yields. For example, 2-aminopyridine reacted with an excess of ethanol at 180 degrees C for 20 h in the presence of dichlorotris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium [RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(3)] to give 2-(ethylamino)pyridine (1) and 2-(diethylamino)pyridine (2) in 9% and 70% yields, respectively. On the other hand, when (eta(4)-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(eta(6)-1,3,5-cyclooctatriene)ruthenium [Ru(cod)(cot)] was used as a catalyst, even in the presence of excess ethanol, 1 was obtained in 85% yield with high selectivity. The addition of tertiary phosphines and phosphites to Ru(cod)(cot) increased the yield of the dialkylated amine.     

Ruthenium(II)-catalyzed isomer-selective cyclization of 1,6-dienes leading to exo-methylenecyclopentanes: unprecedented cycloisomerization mechanism involving ruthenacyclopentane(hydrido) intermediate.

In the presence of a catalytic amount of ruthenium(II) complexes, [RuCl(2)(cod)](n)(), RuCl(2)(cod)(MeCN)(2), [RuCl(2)(nbd)](n)(), [RuCl(2)(CO)(3)](2), and Cp*Ru(cod)Cl, 1,6-dienes were effectively converted into the corresponding exo-methylenecyclopentanes in good to excellent yields with good isomer purity in i-PrOH at 90 degrees C. The alcoholic solvent was essential for the present catalytic cyclization, and the efficiency increased in the following order: t-BuOH < EtOH < or = i-PrOH. In contrast, a Ru(0) complex, (C(6)Me(6))Ru(cod), catalyzed the cycloisomerization only in 1,2-dichloroethane. The unusual isomer-selectivity occurred when a 1,7-octadiene was subjected to cyclization to give a similar exo-methylenecyclopentane isomer as the major product. The identical isomer selectivity was observed for the cyclization of unsymmetrical 1,6-dienes having one terminal- and one internal-alkene termini. On the basis of the results from the studies using the known ruthenium hydrides and deuterium-labeling substrates, the novel mechanism via the Ru(II) <--> Ru(IV) system involving a ruthenacyclopentane(hydrido) intermediate was proposed, which better explains the particular regiochemistry of the present cyclization than other previous mechanisms.     

Ambient temperature, tandem catalytic dehydrocoupling-hydrogenation reactions using Rh colloids and Me2NH.BH3 as a stoichiometric H2 source

Highly active Rh colloids, generated in situ during the catalytic dehydrocoupling of Me2NH.BH3 using [{Rh(cod)(mu-Cl)}2] as a precatalyst, are capable of efficiently hydrogenating alkenes at 25 degrees C in a one-pot procedure using only the evolved H2 from the initial dehydrocoupling reaction.     

Size-controllable APTS stabilized ruthenium(0) nanoparticles catalyst for the dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane at room temperature

Dimethylamine-borane, (CH(3))(2)NHBH(3), has been considered as one of the attractive materials for the efficient storage of hydrogen, which is still one of the key issues in the "Hydrogen Economy". In a recent communication we have reported the synthesis and characterization of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane stabilized ruthenium(0) nanoparticles with the preliminary results for their catalytic performance in the dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane at room temperature. Herein, we report a complete work including (i) effect of initial [APTS]/[Ru] molar ratio on both the size and the catalytic activity of ruthenium(0) nanoparticles, (ii) collection of extensive kinetic data under non-MTL conditions depending on the substrate and catalyst concentrations to define the rate law of Ru(0)/APTS-catalyzed dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane at room temperature, (iii) determination of activation parameters (E(a), ΔH(#) and ΔS(#)) for Ru(0)/APTS-catalyzed dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane; (iv) demonstration of the catalytic lifetime of Ru(0)/APTS nanoparticles in the dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane at room temperature, (v) testing the bottlability and reusability of Ru(0)/APTS nanocatalyst in the room-temperature dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane, (vi) quantitative carbon disulfide (CS(2)) poisoning experiments to find a corrected TTO and TOF values on a per-active-ruthenium-atom basis, (vii) a summary of extensive literature review for the catalysts tested in the catalytic dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane as part of the results and discussions.     

Cellular delivery of pyrenyl-arene ruthenium complexes by a water-soluble arene ruthenium metalla-cage

Three pyrenyl-arene ruthenium complexes (M(1)-M(3)) of the general formula [Ru(η(6)-arene-pyrenyl)Cl(2)(pta)] (pta = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) have been synthesised and characterised. Prior to the coordination to ruthenium, pyrene was connected to the arene ligand via an alkane chain containing different functional groups: ester (L(1)), ether (L(2)) and amide (L(3)), respectively. Furthermore, the pyrenyl moieties of the M(n) complexes were encapsulated within the hydrophobic cavity of the water soluble metalla-cage, [Ru(6)(η(6)-p-cymene)(6)(tpt)(2)(donq)(3)](6+) (tpt = 2,4,6-tri-(pyridin-4-yl)-1,3,5-triazine; donq = 5,8-dioxydo-1,4-naphthoquinonato), while the arene ruthenium end was pointing out of the cage, thus giving rise to the corresponding host-guest systems [M(n)?Ru(6)(η(6)-p-cymene)(6)(tpt)(2)(donq)(3)](6+) ([M(n)?cage](6+)). The antitumor activity of the pyrenyl-arene ruthenium complexes (M(n)) and the corresponding host-guest systems [M(n)?cage][CF(3)SO(3)](6) were evaluated in vitro in different types of human cancer cell lines (A549, A2780, A2780cisR, Me300 and HeLa). Complex M(2), which contains an ether group within the alkane chain, demonstrated at least a 10 times higher cytotoxicity than the reference compound [Ru(η(6)-p-cymene)Cl(2)(pta)] (RAPTA-C). All host-guest systems [M(n)?cage](6+) showed good anticancer activity with IC(50) values ranging from 2 to 8 μM after 72 h exposure. The fluorescence of the pyrenyl moiety allowed the monitoring of the cellular uptake and revealed an increase of uptake by a factor two of the M(2) complex when encapsulated in the metalla-cage [Ru(6)(η(6)-p-cymene)(6)(tpt)(2)(donq)(3)](6+).     

CO dissociation mechanism in racemization of alcohols by a cyclopentadienyl ruthenium dicarbonyl catalyst

(13)CO exchange studies of racemization catalyst (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)Cl and (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)(Ot-Bu) by (13)C NMR spectroscopy are reported. CO exchange for the active catalyst form, (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)(Ot-Bu) is approximately 20 times faster than that for the precatalyst (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)Cl. An inhibition on the rate of racemization of (S)-1-phenylethanol was observed on addition of CO. These results support the hypothesis that CO dissociation is a key step in the racemization of sec-alcohols by (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)Cl, as also predicted by DFT calculations.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of N-Boc-imidazoles and oxazoles

Substituted imidazoles and oxazoles were respectively hydrogenated into the corresponding chiral imidazolines and oxazolines (up to 99% ee). The highly enantioselective hydrogenation was achieved by using the chiral ruthenium catalyst, which is generated from Ru(η(3)-methallyl)(2)(cod) and a trans-chelating chiral bisphosphine ligand, PhTRAP. This is the first successful catalytic asymmetric reduction of 5-membered aromatic rings containing two or more heteroatoms.     

Highly efficient redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols catalysed by pyrazole-based ruthenium(IV) complexes in water: mechanisms of bifunctional catalysis in water

The catalytic activity of ruthenium(IV) ([Ru(η(3):η(3)-C(10)H(16))Cl(2)L]; C(10)H(16) = 2,7-dimethylocta-2,6-diene-1,8-diyl, L = pyrazole, 3-methylpyrazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, 3-methyl-5-phenylpyrazole, 2-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)phenol or indazole) and ruthenium(II) complexes ([Ru(η(6)-arene)Cl(2)(3,5-dimethylpyrazole)]; arene = C(6)H(6), p-cymene or C(6)Me(6)) in the redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols into carbonyl compounds in water is reported. The former show much higher catalytic activity than ruthenium(II) complexes. In particular, a variety of allylic alcohols have been quantitatively isomerised by using [Ru(η(3):η(3)-C(10)H(16))Cl(2)(pyrazole)] as a catalyst; the reactions proceeded faster in water than in THF, and in the absence of base. The isomerisations of monosubstituted alcohols take place rapidly (10-60?min, turn-over frequency = 750-3000?h(-1)) and, in some cases, at 35?°C in 60?min. The nature of the aqueous species formed in water by this complex has been analysed by ESI-MS. To analyse how an aqueous medium can influence the mechanism of the bifunctional catalytic process, DFT calculations (B3LYP) including one or two explicit water molecules and using the polarisable continuum model have been carried out and provide a valuable insight into the role of water on the activity of the bifunctional catalyst. Several mechanisms have been considered and imply the formation of aqua complexes and their deprotonated species generated from [Ru(η(3):η(3)-C(10)H(16))Cl(2)(pyrazole)]. Different competitive pathways based on outer-sphere mechanisms, which imply hydrogen-transfer processes, have been analysed. The overall isomerisation implies two hydrogen-transfer steps from the substrate to the catalyst and subsequent transfer back to the substrate. In addition to the conventional Noyori outer-sphere mechanism, which involves the pyrazolide ligand, a new mechanism with a hydroxopyrazole complex as the active species can be at work in water. The possibility of formation of an enol, which isomerises easily to the keto form in water, also contributes to the efficiency in water.     

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.     

Metallocenes@COF-102: organometallic host-guest chemistry of porous crystalline organic frameworks

The organometallic host-guest chemistry of porous covalent organic frameworks is explored by vapour phase infiltration of volatile organometallic precursors; namely, [Fe(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)], [Co(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)], and [Ru(cod)(cot)]. The unique arrangement of ferrocene molecules inside COF-102 is driven by π-π (host-guest) interactions and replicates the framework symmetry.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations on the catalytic hydrosilylation of carbon dioxide with ruthenium nitrile complexes

Ruthenium complexes, mer-[RuX(3)(MeCN)(3)] and cis/trans-[RuX(2)(MeCN)(4)] with X=Br, Cl, were investigated as precatalysts in homogeneously catalyzed hydrosilylation of CO(2). The oxidation state of ruthenium and nature of the halide in the precatalysts were found to influence the catalytic activity in the conversion of Me(2)PhSiH to the formoxysilane Me(2)PhSiOCHO, with Ru(III) having chloride ligands being most active. Monitoring the reactions by in-situ IR spectroscopy in MeCN as the solvent indicates an interaction of the precatalyst with the silane prior to activation of CO(2). In the absence of CO(2), hydrosilylation of the MeCN solvent occurs. Catalytic activity in CO(2) hydrosilylation is enhanced by Me(2)PhSiCl, generated during reduction of Ru(III) in mer-[RuX(3)(MeCN)(3)] to Ru(II) or, when added as promoter to Ru(II) precatalysts. The reaction mechanism for the catalytic cycle has been calculated by DFT methods for the reaction of Me(3)SiH. The key steps are: Transfer of the Me(3)Si moiety to a coordinated halide ligand, resulting in an L(n)RuH(XSiMe(3)) intermediate --> CO(2) coordination --> Me(3)Si transfer to CO(2) --> reductive elimination of formoxysilane product. This reaction sequence is more favorable energetically for chloride complexes than for the analogous bromide complexes, which accounts for their differences in catalytic activity. Calculations also explain the rate increase observed experimentally in the presence of Me(2)PhSiCl. A parallel reaction pathway leads to (Me(3)Si)(2)O as a minor byproduct which arises from the condensation of two initially formed Me(3)SiOH molecules.     

Ruthenium nanoparticles inside porous [Zn4O(bdc)3] by hydrogenolysis of adsorbed [Ru(cod)(cot)]: a solid-state reference system for surfactant-stabilized ruthenium colloids

The gas-phase loading of [Zn4O(bdc)3] (MOF-5; bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) with the volatile compound [Ru(cod)(cot)] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, cot = 1,3,5-cyclooctatriene) was followed by solid-state (13)C magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. Subsequent hydrogenolysis of the adsorbed complex inside the porous structure of MOF-5 at 3 bar and 150 degrees C was performed, yielding ruthenium nanoparticles in a typical size range of 1.5-1.7 nm, embedded in the intact MOF-5 matrix, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The adsorption of CO molecules on the obtained Ru@MOF-5 nanocomposite was followed by IR spectroscopy. Solid-state (2)H NMR measurements indicated that MOF-5 was a stabilizing support with only weak interactions with the embedded particles, as deduced from the surprisingly high mobility of the surface Ru-D species in comparison to surfactant-stabilized colloidal Ru nanoparticles of similar sizes. Surprisingly, hydrogenolysis of the [Ru(cod)(cot)]3.5@MOF-5 inclusion compound at the milder condition of 25 degrees C does not lead to the quantitative formation of Ru nanoparticles. Instead, formation of a ruthenium-cyclooctadiene complex with the arene moiety of the bdc linkers of the framework takes place, as revealed by (13)C MAS NMR, PXRD, and TEM.     

Mono and dinuclear arene ruthenium(II) triazoles by 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions to a coordinated azide in ruthenium(II) compounds

The dimeric η(6)-hexamethylbenzene ruthenium(II) triazole compounds of formulation [{(η(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(N(3)C(2)(CO(2)R)(2))}(2)(μC(2)O(4))] have been synthesized by 1,3-diploar cycloadditions of coordinated azido compound [{(η(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(L(1))N(3)}] (1) with substituted acetylene, RO(2)CC(2)CO(2)R via unexpected oxidation of the coordinated ligand to oxalate (where; L(1) = 5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-pyrone; R = Me, 3 or Et, 4). In contrast, a similar 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of [{(η(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(L(2))N(3)}] (2) (where; L(2) = tropolone) with acetylene yielded the monomeric triazole compound [(η(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(L(2)){N(3)C(2)(CO(2)R)(2)}] (where; R = Me, 5; Et, 6). The compounds were characterized by spectroscopy and the structures of representative compounds 4 and 6 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The two ruthenium centres in the compound 4, are linked by a tetra-dentate oxalate group. Both compounds, 4 and 6, crystallized in a triclinic space group P-1.     

Mono- and binuclear ruthenium corroles: synthesis,spectroscopy, electrochemistry,and structural characterization

The aim of this research was to prepare mononuclear ruthenium corroles, because of the well-documented potency of analogous porphyrin complexes in catalysis. The syntheses of the mononuclear nitrosyl complexes [Ru(tpfc)(NO)] and [Ru(tdcc)(NO)] (tpfc=trianion of 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole, tdcc=trianion of 5,10,15-tris(2,6-dichlorophenyl)corrole), and of the binuclear [[Ru(tpfc)](2)] were achieved by using [[Ru(cod)Cl(2)](x)] (cod=cyclooctadiene) as the metal source. The NMR spectra of all three complexes clearly demonstrate that they are diamagnetic; this is consistent with a triple bond between the metal ions in [[Ru(tpfc)](2)] and is expected for classical [MNO](6) complexes. These features were further substantiated by the stretching frequencies of the [MNO] moieties, electrochemical measurements on all complexes, and the X-ray crystal structures of [Ru(tpfc)(NO)] and [[Ru(tpfc)](2)]. A comparison of the spectroscopic and structural characteristics of these new complexes with analogous iron corroles, as well as with iron and ruthenium porphyrins, suggests that it will be hard to obtain mononuclear ruthenium corroles without pi-accepting ligands.     

Probing mesitylborane and mesitylborate ligation within the coordination sphere of Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr3)+: a combined synthetic, X-ray crystallographic, and computational study

The reaction of Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr(3))Cl (1) with MesBH(2) (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) afforded the mesitylborate complex Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr(3))(BH(2)MesCl) (2, 66%). Exposure of 2 to the chloride abstracting agent LiB(C(6)F(5))(4)·2.5OEt(2) provided [Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr(3))(BH(2)Mes)](+)B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-) (3, 54%), which features an unusual η(2)-B-H monoborane ligand. The related borate complex Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr(3))(BH(3)Mes) (5, 65%) was prepared from 1 and LiH(3)BMes. Attempts to effect the insertion of unsaturated organic substrates into the B-H bonds of 3 were unsuccessful, and efforts to dehydrohalogenate 2 using KO(t)Bu instead afforded the mesitylborate complex Cp*(P(i)Pr(3))Ru(BH(2)MesOH) (6, 48%). Treatment of 1 with benzyl potassium generated an intermediate hydridoruthenium complex (7) resulting from dehydrogenation of a P(i)Pr fragment, which in turn was observed to react with MesBH(2) to afford the mesitylborate complex Cp*(P((i)Pr)(2)(CH(3)CCH(2)))Ru(BH(3)Mes) (8, 47%). Crystallographic characterization data are provided for 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8. A combined X-ray crystallographic and density functional theory (DFT) investigation of 3 and 5, using Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) and Atoms in Molecules (AIM) analysis, revealed that 3 and 5 are best described as donor-acceptor complexes between a Cp*(P(i)Pr(3))Ru(+) fragment and a bis(η(2)-B-H) coordinating mesitylborane(borate) ligand. Significant σ-donation from the B-H bonds into the Ru(II) center exists as evidenced by the NBO populations, bond orders, and AIM delocalization indices. In the case of 3, the vacant p orbital on boron is stabilized by Ru→B π back-donation as well as by resonance with the mesityl group.     

Ruthenium complexes of substituted hydrazine: new solution- and solid-state binding modes

The methylhydrazine complex [Ru(NH(2)NHMe)(PyP)(2)]Cl(BPh(4)) (PyP=1-[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]pyrazole) was synthesised by addition of methylhydrazine to the bimetallic complex [Ru(mu-Cl)(PyP)(2)](2)(BPh(4))(2). The methylhydrazine ligand of the ruthenium complex has two different binding modes: side-on (eta(2)-) when the complex is in the solid state and end-on (eta(1)-) when the complex is in solution. The solid-state structure of [Ru(PyP)(2)(NH(2)NHMe)]Cl(BPh(4)) was determined by X-ray crystallography. 2D NMR spectroscopic experiments with (15)N at natural abundance confirmed that in solution the methylhydrazine is bound to the metal centre by only the -NH(2) group and the ruthenium complex retains an octahedral conformation. Hydrazine complexes [RuCl(PyP)(2)(eta(1)-NH(2)NRR')]OSO(2)CF(3) (in which R=H, R'=Ph, R=R'=Me and NRR'=NC(5)H(10)) were formed in situ by the addition of phenylhydrazine, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine and N-aminopiperidine, respectively, to a solution of the bimetallic complex [Ru(mu-Cl)(PyP)(2)](2)(OSO(2)CF(3))(2) in dichloromethane. These substituted hydrazine complexes of ruthenium were shown to exist in an equilibrium mixture with the bimetallic starting material.     

Substituent‐Free Gallium by Hydrogenolysis of Coordinated GaCp*: Synthesis and Structure of Highly Fluxional [Ru2(Ga)(GaCp*)7(H)3]

All change : Complete ligand exchange through the hydrogenation of [Ru(η⁴‐cod)(η⁶‐cot)] in the presence of GaCp* under mild conditions leads to the title complex featuring a “naked” gallium atom bridging two ruthenium centers (see structure: C white, Ga blue, Ru red). This cluster can be considered as a trapped intermediate on the way to mixed‐metal nanoparticles; cot=1,3,5‐cyclooctatriene; cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, Cp*=C₅Me₅.

     

Water oxidation catalysis: influence of anionic ligands upon the redox properties and catalytic performance of mononuclear ruthenium complexes

Aiming at highly efficient molecular catalysts for water oxidation, a mononuclear ruthenium complex Ru(II)(hqc)(pic)(3) (1; H(2)hqc = 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid and pic = 4-picoline) containing negatively charged carboxylate and phenolate donor groups has been designed and synthesized. As a comparison, two reference complexes, Ru(II)(pdc)(pic)(3) (2; H(2)pdc = 2,6-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid) and Ru(II)(tpy)(pic)(3) (3; tpy = 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine), have also been prepared. All three complexes are fully characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry (MS), and X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 showed a high efficiency toward catalytic water oxidation either driven by chemical oxidant (Ce(IV) in a pH 1 solution) with a initial turnover number of 0.32 s(-1), which is several orders of magnitude higher than that of related mononuclear ruthenium catalysts reported in the literature, or driven by visible light in a three-component system with [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) types of photosensitizers. Electrospray ionization MS results revealed that at the Ru(III) state complex 1 undergoes ligand exchange of 4-picoline with water, forming the authentic water oxidation catalyst in situ. Density functional theory (DFT) was employed to explain how anionic ligands (hqc and pdc) facilitate the 4-picoline dissociation compared with a neutral ligand (tpy). Electrochemical measurements show that complex 1 has a much lower E(Ru(III)/Ru(II)) than that of reference complex 2 because of the introduction of a phenolate ligand. DFT was further used to study the influence of anionic ligands upon the redox properties of mononuclear aquaruthenium species, which are postulated to be involved in the catalysis cycle of water oxidation.     

Synthesis of 2-alkylidenetetrahydrofurans by Ru-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective codimerization of dihydrofurans with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters

2-(1-Alkoxycarbonyl)alkylidenetetrahydrofurans were readily synthesized by the codimerization of 2,3- or 2,5-dihydrofurans with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters using a zerovalent Ru catalyst, Ru(cod)(cot), with high regio- and stereoselectivity.