A ruthenium(II) complex having a ligand undergoing partial CÂ =Â N cleavage and unusual double-bond shift and nonchirality

A novel ruthenium(II) complex 1 has been structurally characterized including a nonchiral ligand Lb formed from a chiral bis-Schiff-base compound with two stereogenic centers derived from D- or L-phenylalanine. In the process of Ru(II) ion complexation, a unique rearrangement takes place for ligand Lb involving the proton migration to cause the shift of a C = N double bond accompanied by the disappearance of a chiral center.