Organometallic-like C-H bond activation and C-S bond formation on the disulfide bridge in the RuSSRu core complexes.

Abstract

C-S bond formations on the disulfide bridge in the dinuclear Ru(III) complexes have been found in the reaction with unsaturated organic molecules, such as alkenes and ketones. The reactions are initiated by the organometallic-like C-H bond activation. Through the mechanistic study of these novel reactions, the specific nature of the disulfide bridging ligand has been unveiled: (i) the double bond character of the sulfur-sulfur bond, which allows the Diels-Alder-type [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with butadiene to form a C(4)S(2) ring, (ii) the C-H bond activation on the S-S bond forming a C-S bond. All of the C-H activation reactions and the ensuing C-S bond formation reactions suggest that the disulfide ligand can act in a manner similar to the transition metal centers of the organometallic complexes.