The chemistry and catalytic properties of ruthenium and osmium complexes. Part 5. Synthesis of new compounds containing arsine ligands and catalytic activity in the homogeneous hydrogenation of aldehydes

Abstract

The complexes MHCl(CO)(AsPh3)3 (1: M=Ru and2: M=Os) readily react with Ph2PCH2CH2AsPh2 (Arphos) to yield MHCl(CO) (AsPh3) (Arphos) (3: M=Ru and4: M=Os) and with acetic acid to produce MCl(CO) (OCOMe) (AsPh3)2 (5: M=Ru and6: M=Os); the new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, i.r. and1H n.m.r. spectroscopy. Complexes (1−6) are efficient catalyst precursors for the homogeneous hydrogenation of the C=O bond of propionaldehyde under moderate reaction conditions; some relations between structures and catalytic activities are described, as well as comparisons with analogous systems containing phosphine ligands.