Spectral,catalytic, and antifungal studies of ruthenium(II) chalcone complexes

Reactions of [RuHCl(CO)(B)(EPh₃)₂] (B = EPh₃ or Py; E = P or As) and chalcones in benzene with equal molar ratio led to the formation of new complexes of the type [RuCl(CO)(EPh₃)(B)(L^1?4)] (B = PPh₃, AsPh₃ or Py; E = P or As; L = chalcone). The new complexes have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic (IR-, electronic, ¹H-, ³¹P-, and ¹³C-NMR) data. Based on these data, an octahedral structure has been assigned for all the complexes. The chalcones are monobasic bidentate (O,O) donors and coordinate to ruthenium via phenolic and carbonyl oxygen. The new complexes exhibit efficient catalytic activity for the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds. Antifungal properties of the ligands and their complexes have been examined and compared with standard Bavistin.