Ru II Complexes with -C Donors

Some carbonyl-containing Ru(II) complexes with porphyrin ligands and phosphine ligands have already been mentioned (1.9.2 and 1.9.3 respectively). 

Synthesis of secondary amides via the oxidative coupling (dehydrogenation) of primary alcohols R CH3(OH) and primary amines R (CH3)NH3 to the amides 

R C(0)NHCHjR was accomplished with [RuClj(p-cymene)]j/(dppb)/CSj(C03)/ 

3- methyl-2-butanone/ BuOH/120°C/24h (dppb=bis-(diphenylphosphino)butane). The process is likely to involve oxidation of the alcohol to the aldehyde and formation of an intermediate hemi-aminal, which is oxidised to the amide with elimination of water and return of hydrogen [958], 

RuCl(TAZO)(p-cymene) (TAZO =2-methyl-5-oxo-7-phenyl-3-thioxo-3,4,5, 6-tetrahydro-2//-l,2,4-triazepine TAZS =2-methyl-7-phenyl-3, 5-dithioxo-3,4, 5, 6-tetrahydro-2H-l, 2, 4-triaze-pine). These were made from [RuCljCp-cymene)] and (TAZO). As RuCl(TAZO)(p-cymene)/Oj/MejCHCHO/CH3Clj they epoxidised natural terpenic alkenes (Table 3.1) [959]. 

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