Spectral, redox and catalytic studies of triphenylphosphine/triphenylarsine complexes of Ru(III) with N, O donor ligands derived from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and primary amines

A series of new mixed ligand hexacoordinated ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes of the type [RuX2(EPh3)2(LL′)] (X = Cl, E = P; X = Cl or Br, E = As and LL′ = anion of the Schiff bases derived from the condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with aniline, 4-chloroaniline, 2-methyl aniline and 4-methoxy aniline) are reported. All the complexes have been characterized by analytical and spectral (IR, electronic and EPR) data. The redox behavior of the complexes has also been studied. The complexes exhibit catalytic activity in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde in the presence of N-methyl morpholine-N-oxide (NMO). An octahedral structure has been proposed for all of the complexes.