Catalytic and antimicrobial studies of binuclear ruthenium(III) complexes containing bis-β-diketones

Abstract

A series of new binuclear Ru(III) complexes of the type {[RuX3(EPh3)]2(bis- β-dk)} [X = Cl/Br; E = P/As bis- β-dk = bis(β-diketone)] have been prepared by reacting [RuCl3(PPh3)3], [RuCl3(AsPh3)3], [RuBr3(PPh3)3], [RuBr3(AsPh3)3] with bis(β-diketones) in a 2:1 molar ratio in benzene. These complexes have been characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The redox property of the complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetric technique. The complexes were found to be effective catalysts for the aryl–aryl coupling and oxidation of benzyl alcohol, cyclohexanol, propan-1-ol and 2-methylpropanol to benzaldehyde, cyclohexanone, propionaldehyde and 2-methylpropionaldehyde, respectively, using molecular oxygen as primary oxidant. All the complexes have been screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities.