Synthesis,characterization and catalytic studies of ruthenium(II) chalconate complexes

Stable ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes of the type [RuCl(CO)(EPh₃)(B)(L)] (E = P or As; B = PPh₃, AsPh₃ or Py; L = 2′‐hydroxychalcones) were synthesized from the reaction of [RuHCl(CO)(EPh₃)₂(B)] (E = P or As; B = PPh₃, AsPh₃ or Py) with 2′‐hydroxychalcones in benzene under reflux. The new complexes were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic (IR, electronic ¹H, ³¹P and ¹³C NMR) data. They were assigned an octahedral structure. The complexes exhibited catalytic activity for the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones in the presence of N‐methylmorpholine‐N‐oxide (NMO) as co‐oxidant and were also found to be efficient transfer hydrogenation catalysts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.