Redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols catalysed by water-soluble ruthenium complexes in aqueous systems

The water-soluble ruthenium(II) complexes Na4[{RuCl2(mtppms)2}2], Na4[{RuCl(μ-Cl)(CCCPh2)(mtppms)2}2], Na2[RuClCp(mtppms)2] and Na[Ru(CO)Cp(mtppms)2] (mtppms = Ph2P-C6H4-3-SO3−) were found active catalysts of isomerization of allylic alcohols in water and in aqueous-organic biphasic systems with turnover frequencies up to 2226 h−1. The reaction rates strongly depended on the pH with an optimum in the range pH 4-7.