NOESY,HOESY, T1 and solid‐state NMR studies on [RuH(η6‐toluene)(Binap)](CF3SO3): a molecule with a strongly distorted piano‐stool structure

Detailed solution‐NMR studies on the distorted ruthenium hydride complex RuH(η⁶‐toluene)(Binap)](CF₃SO₃) (2) are reported. NOE‐spectroscopy, together with low‐temperature ¹H and ³¹P NMR data, reveals restricted rotation around a P—C bond for a specific axial P—phenyl ring with the activation energy determined via simulation. From ¹⁹F, ¹H HOESY data, the approach of the triflate anion relative to the hydride ligand is established. Comparison of the quadrupole coupling constant C_QF from both solution‐ and solid‐state MAS‐NMR on the deuteride RuD(η⁶‐benzene)(Binap)](CF₃SO₃) (1‐D) provide information on the nature of the Ru—H bond. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.