The RuCl3(dppb)H2O complex: A new metal-assisted oxidative dehydrogenation of the o-phenylenediamine ligand

Experimental results showed that the mer-[RuCl3(dppb)(H2O)] complex is a suitable precursor for the conversion of the o-phenylenediamine to o-benzoquinonediimine ligand in a reaction sensible to the oxygen presence. This observation points for the application possibility of the mer-[RuCl3(dppb)(H2O)] aqua-complex as starting reagent in a wide range of synthetic routes.