Structures, preparation and catalytic activity of ruthenium cyclopentadienyl complexes based on pyridyl-phosphine ligand

Ruthenium complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(κ¹-P-PPh₂Py)(PPh₃)Cl] (1) and [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(κ²-P-N-PPh₂Py)(PPh₃)]⁺ (1a) containing diphenyl-2-pyridylphosphine (PPh₂Py) are reported. Coordinated PPh₂Py in the complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(κ¹-P-PPh₂Py)(PPh₃)Cl] (1) exhibits monodentate behavior. In presence of NH₄PF₆ in methanol at room temperature it afforded chelated complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(κ²-P,N-PPh₂Py)(PPh₃)]⁺ (1a). Further, 1 reacted with various species viz., CH₃CN, NaCN, NH₄SCN and NaN₃ to afford cationic and neutral complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(κ¹-P-PPh₂Py)(PPh₃)L]⁺ and [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(κ¹-P-PPh₂Py)(PPh₃)L] [L = CH₃CN (1b); CN⁻ (1c); N₃⁻ (1d) and SCN⁻ (1e)] and it’s reaction with N,N-donor chelating ligands dimethylglyoxime (H₂dmg) and 1,2-phenylenediamine (pda) gave cationic complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(κ¹-P-PPh₂Py)(κ²-N-N)]PF₆ [κ²-N-N = dmg (1f) and pda (1g)]. The complexes 1-1g have been characterized by physicochemical techniques and crystal structures of 1, 1a, 1c, 1e and 1f have been determined by single crystal X-ray analyses. Catalytic potential of the complex 1 has been evaluated in water under aerobic conditions. It was observed that the complex 1 selectively catalyzes reduction of aldehyde into alcohol.