Ruthenium(II) complexes of hybrid 8‐hydroxyquinoline–thiosemicarbazone ligands: synthesis,characterization and catalytic applications

A series of new hexa‐coordinated ruthenium(II) hydroxyquinoline–thiosemicarbazone complexes of the type [Ru(CO)(EPh₃)(B)(L)] (E = P or As; B = PPh₃, AsPh₃ or Py; L = hydroxyquinoline–thiosemicarbazone) were synthesized by reacting ruthenium precursor complexes [RuHCl(CO)(EPh₃)₂(B)] (E = P or As; B = PPh₃, AsPh₃ or Py) with hydroxyquinoline–thiosemicarbazone ligands in ethanol. The new complexes were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic (FT‐IR, UV–visible, NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P) and fast atom bombardment (FAB)–mass spectrometric methods. Based on the spectral results, an octahedral geometry was assigned for all the complexes. The new complexes showed good catalytic activity for the conversion of aldehydes to amides in the presence of hydroxylamine hydrochloride–sodium bicarbonate and for the oxidation of alkanes into their corresponding alcohols and ketones in the presence of m‐chloroperbenzoic acid. The complexes also catalyzed the N‐alkylation of benzylamine in the presence of KOtBu in alcohol medium. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.