Synthesis, crystal structure and catalytic activity of ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes containing ONO and ONS donor ligands

Diamagnetic ruthenium(II) complexes of the type [Ru(L)(CO)(B)(EPh3)] [where E = As, B = AsPh3; E = P, B = PPh3, py (or) pip and L = dibasic tridentate ligands dehydroacetic acid semicarbazone (abbreviated as dhasc) or dehydroacetic acid phenyl thiosemicarbazone (abbreviated as dhaptsc)] were synthesized from the reaction of [RuHCl(CO)(B)(EPh3)2] (where E = As, B = AsPh3; E = P, B = PPh3, py (or) pip) with different tridentate chelating ligands derived from dehydroacetic acid with semicarbazide or phenylthiosemicarbazide. All the complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV–Vis and 1H NMR spectral methods. The coordination mode of the ligands and the geometry of the complexes were confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography of one of the complexes [Ru(dhaptsc)(CO)(PPh3)2] (5). All the complexes are redox active and are monitored by cyclic voltammetric technique. Further, the catalytic efficiency of one of the ruthenium complexes (5) was determined in the case of oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones in the presence of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide.

Graphical abstractRuthenium(II) carbonyl complexes containing tridentate semicarbazone/thiosemicarbazone ligands have been synthesized and characterized. One of the complexes was used as a model catalyst for oxidation of alcohols into their corresponding carbonyl compounds in the presence of NMO as co-oxidant.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide