Ge(H)(2‐C6H4PPh2)3] as Ligand Precursor at Ruthenium: Formation and Reactivity of [Ru(Cl){Ge(2‐C6H4PPh2)3}

Abstract

AbstractThe germane [Ge(H)(2‐C6H4PPh2)3] (2) was synthesized by reaction of Li[Ge(2‐C6H4PPh2)3] (1) with water. The presence of nBuBr led to the formation of [Ge(nBu)(2‐C6H4PPh2)3] (3). The complex [Ru(Cl){Ge(2‐C6H4PPh2)3}] (4) was obtained by reaction of 2 with [Ru(Cl)2(PPh3)3] and NEt3. The ruthenium‐bound Ge(2‐C6H4PPh2)3 moiety in 4 can be converted into a Ge(Cl)(2‐C6H4PPh2)2 fragment on treatment of 4 with a solution of HCl in diethyl ether to yield [Ru(Cl){Ge(Cl)(2‐C6H4PPh2)2}(PPh3)] (5). The reaction of complex 4 with potassium hydride in an atmosphere of dihydrogen led to [Ru{Ge(2‐C6H4PPh2)3}(H)(H2)] (6). Complex 6 reacted with hydrazine to give [Ru{Ge(2‐C6H4PPh2)3}(H)(N2H4)] (7). With an excess of hydrazine, complex 6 catalyzed the disproportionation of hydrazine to produce ammonia and the ruthenium complex [Ru{Ge(2‐C6H4PPh2)3}(H)(NH3)] (8).