Ruthenium(II) Carbonyl Complexes Containing Tetradentate Schiff Bases and Their Catalytic Activities

Abstract

The reactions of ruthenium(II) complexes, [RuHX(CO) (EPh₃)₂(B)] [X=H or Cl; E=P or As; B=PPh₃, AsPh₃ or pyridine(Py)] with tetradentate Schiff base ligands derived by condensing o‐aminophenol or o‐aminothiophenol with gloxyal or benzil have been carried out. The new complexes have been characterised by analytical, IR, electronic, ¹H NMR spectral studies and are formulated as [Ru(CO)(B)(L)] [L=Schiff base anion; B=PPh₃, AsPh₃ or pyridine(Py)]. An octahedral structure has been tentatively proposed for the new complexes. The new complexes were found to be effective catalysts for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde using N‐methylmorpholine‐N‐oxide as a co‐oxidant.

Keywords:

• ruthenium(II) Schiff base
• triphenylphosphine
• triphenylarsine
• N‐methylmorpholine‐N‐oxide
• catalytic activity