Synthesis,characterization and monitoring of trans-[Ru{P(OMe)3}4Cl2] by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and 31P-n.m.r.

P(OMe₃)₃ reacts with RuCl₃ · 3H₂O to produce the complex trans-Ru{P(OMe)₃}₄Cl₂] from which the complexes trans-Ru{P(OMe)₃}₄S₂]²⁺ and cis-Ru{P(OMe)₃}₂S₄]²⁺ (S = Solvent) can be prepared by solvation in neutral and acidic solution, respectively. The aquation takes place with a specific rate of 1.0 × 10^–2 min^–1 (pH = 3.0) and 5.4 × 10^–3 min^–1 (pH 7.0) The trans-Ru{P(OMe)₃}₄Cl₂] complex has been characterized by elemental analysis; electronic spectra _max = 408 nm] ( = 1.7 × 10² M^–1 cm^–1), _max = 250 nm ( = 3.5 × 10³ M^–1 cm^–1) and a shoulder at = 280 nm ( 8.3 × 10² M^–1 cm^–1)]; cyclic voltametry ( = 0.75 V versus s.c.e.); HPLC (t _R = 5.7 min); and ³¹P-n.m.r. ( = 131 p.p.m.). In acidic solutions the ³¹P-n.m.r. variations point to a reaction intermediate, characterized as the complex ion trans-Ru{P(OMe)₃}₄S₂]²⁺ ( = 136 p.p.m.) followed by the formation of the proposed product, cis-Ru{P(OMe)₃}₂S₄]²⁺ ( = 145 p.p.m.). For this same complex, at pH = 7.0, the results show the formation of the trans-Ru{P(OMe)₃}₄S₂]²⁺ ( = 136 p.p.m.). The HPLC results for the trans-Ru{P(OMe)₃}₄Cl₂] complex show that the different species are present at different pH values. In acidic media a less polar species (t _R = 4.3 min) compared with the starting material (t _R = 5.7 min) was formed. At neutral pH (t _R = 4.6 min) the species generated were not modified, however they exhibited different properties from the species obtained at a lower pH.