Syntheses, characterization and catalytic activities of half-sandwich ruthenium complexes with naphthalene-based Schiff base ligands

Abstract

Four ruthenium(II) p-cymene complexes with naphthalene-based Schiff base ligands [Ru(p-cymene)LCl] (2a–2d) have been synthesized and characterized. The half-sandwich ruthenium complexes were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, elemental analyses, and infrared spectrometry. The molecular structures of 2a, 2b, and 2c were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, these half-sandwich ruthenium complexes are highly active catalysts for the hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines using NaBH₄ as the reducing agent in ethanol at room temperature.

Keywords:

• Half-sandwich
• ruthenium
• structure
• nitroarene
• reduction