Synthesis, structures and catalytic activities of half-sandwich ruthenium complexes based on Schiff Base ligands

•A series of half-sandwich ruthenium complexes containing schiff-base ligands have been synthesized and characterized.•The complexes efficiently catalyze the hydrogenation of nitroarenes to aromatic anilines using sodium borohydride as reducing agent in ethanol solvent.

A series of half-sandwich ruthenium(II) complexes containing Schiff-base ligands [Ru(p-cymene)LCl] [HL = (E)-4-X-2-((phenylimino)methyl)phenol, X = H (2a); X = CH3 (2b); X = Cl (2c) and X = Br (2d)] have been synthesized and fully characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectra, elemental analyses and infrared spectrometry. Moreover, the molecular structures of ruthenium complexes 2b and 2c were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. These half-sandwich ruthenium complexes are highly catalyzed hydrogenation of nitroarenes to aromatic anilines to proceed in the presence of sodium borohydride reducing agent in ethanol solvent. Notably, complex 2c was found to be a very efficient catalyst toward reduction of nitroarene compounds with wide functional group compatibility and substrate scope.

Graphical abstractHalf-sandwich ruthenium(II) complex containing Schiff-base ligand was found to be a very efficient catalyst toward reduction of nitroarenes reaction in the presence of sodium borohydride in ethanol solvent.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide