Reaction of Cp*RuCl(PPh 3) 2 with dioxygen and formation of a neutral complex Cp*RuCl(O 2)(PPh 3)

Abstract

Reaction of Cp*RuCl(PPh 3) 2 ( 1) with atmospheric oxygen occurs at room temperature in the presence of acetone or methylene chloride leading to Cp*RuCl(O 2)(PPh 3) ( 2). This complex is remarkably stable in the solid state and it can also release, under not unduly harsh conditions, the activated oxygen molecule, which can oxidize the phosphite L=MeOP[(OCHMe) 2CH 2] to the corresponding phosphate, along with formation of the mono- and disubstituted Cp*RuCl(PPh 3)(L) ( 5), Cp*RuCl(L) 2 ( 6) and [Cp*RuCl(PPh 3)(L) 2]Cl ( 7), complexes. Structural information of phosphite derivatives 5 and 6 has been obtained by X-ray diffraction.