Characterization of Five-Coordinate Ruthenium(II) Phosphine Complexes by X-ray Diffraction and Solid-State (31)P CP/MAS NMR Studies and Their Reactivity with Sulfoxides and Thioethers

31P CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy is examined as a method of characterization for ruthenium(II) phosphine complexes in the solid state, and the results are compared with X-ray crystallographic data determined for RuCl(2)(dppb)(PPh(3)) (dppb = Ph(2)P(CH(2))(4)PPh(2)), RuBr(2)(PPh(3))(3), and the previously determined RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(3). Crystals of RuBr(2)(PPh(3))(3) (C(54)H(45)Br(2)P(3)Ru) are monoclinic, space group P2(1)/a, with a = 12.482(4) ?, b = 20.206(6) ?, c = 17.956(3) ?, beta = 90.40(2) degrees, and Z = 4, and those of RuCl(2)(dppb)(PPh(3)) (C(46)H(43)Cl(2)P(3)Ru) are also monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 10.885(2) ?, b = 20.477(1) ?, c = 18.292(2) ?, beta = 99.979(9) degrees, and Z = 4. The structure of RuBr(2)(PPh(3))(3) was solved by direct methods, and that of RuCl(2)(dppb)(PPh(3)) was solved by the Patterson method. The structures were refined by full-matrix least-squares procedures to R = 0.048 and 0.031 (R(w) = 0.046 and 0.032) for 5069 and 5925 reflections with I >/= 3sigma(I), respectively. Synthetic routes to RuBr(2)(dppb)(PPh(3)) and RuBr(dppb)](2)(&mgr;(2)-dppb) are reported. The reactivity of RuCl(2)(dppb)(PPh(3)) with the neutral two-electron donor ligands (L) dimethyl sulfoxide, tetramethylene sulfoxide, tetrahydrothiophene, and dimethyl sulfide to give (L)(dppb)Ru(&mgr;-Cl)(3)RuCl(dppb)] is discussed.