{(COD)Ru[RNC(H)-C(H)C(Ph)]2} (RMe, Et): The first structurally characterized mononuclear ruthenium complexes with enyl-imino ligands and their relevance in ruthenium catalyzed C-H activation reactions

[(COD)Ru(2-methylallyl)2] acts as a substrate for the synthesis of the first structurally characterized mononuclear ruthenium complexes of the general formula [(COD)Ru([RNC(H)-C(H)C(Ph)]2 in which the imine coordinate as enyl-imino ligands. In addition, [(COD)Ru(2-methylallyl)2] turns out to be a highly effective precatalyst in catalytic C-H activation/C-C coupling reactions of the same imines.