Synthesis, characterization, reactivity and theoretical studies of ruthenium carbonyl complexes containing ortho-substituted triphenyl phosphanes

A series of ruthenium o-phosphane complexes was synthesized and characterized. The reactivity of the prepared complexes was studied by using them as catalysts for the hydroformylation of 1-hexene. The activities depended on the binding mode of the phosphane and on the strength of the ruthenium–phosphane interaction. Strongly coordinated chelating [2-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-(diphenyl) phosphane and [2-(methylthio)phenyl]-(diphenyl) phosphane showed poor activity, while weakly chelated [2-(methoxy)phenyl]-(diphenyl) phosphane and non-chelating phosphanes such as [2-(methyl)phenyl]-(diphenyl) phosphane or [2-(ethyl)phenyl]-(diphenyl) phosphane led to higher activities.

Graphical abstractA series of ruthenium complexes containing substituted phosphanes was synthesized and used as catalysts for the hydroformylation of 1-hexene. The activities were found to depend on binding mode of the phosphane and on the strength of the metal–phosphane interaction. Strongly coordinated chelating phosphanes showed poor activity, while weakly chelated and non-chelating phosphanes led to higher activities.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide