Small molecule binding and activation on a cationic ruthenium center of a pincer complex

Abstraction of chloride ligand in trans-[RuH(Cl)(PPh3)(PNP)] complex using NaBAr4f in the presence of small molecules such as N2, H2, O2, and CO resulted in the formation of trans-[RuH(L)(PPh3)(PNP)]+ {L = N2, H2, O2, CO} complexes. Reaction of cis/trans- [RuH2(PPh3)(PNP)] complexes with CO2 lead to the formation of trans-[RuH(η1−HCO2)(PPh3)(PNP)] complex.