Redox and spectral properties of [Ru(4,4′-Me2bpy)2(AsPh3)(H2O)](ClO4)2: Application to electrocatalytic oxidations of organic compounds

The complex [Ru(4,4′-Me2bpy)2(AsPh3)(H2O)](ClO4)2 (4,4′-Me2bpy = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) has been prepared and their spectral and redox properties has been investigated. The catalytic activity of the complex has been investigated at pH 7.0 in the homogeneous electrooxidation of benzyl alcohol, 1-phenylethanol and cyclohexene. The reactivity was found to decrease in the order 1-phenylethanol > benzyl alcohol > cyclohexene. The higher reactivity of this complex compared to the analogous complex [Ru(4,4′-Me2bpy)2(PPh3)(H2O)](ClO4)2 is attributed to the higher hydrophobic character of the arsine ligand.

Graphical abstractThe complex [Ru(4,4′-Me2bpy)2(AsPh3)(H2O)](ClO4)2 (4,4′-Me2bpy = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) has been prepared and its spectral and redox properties have been investigated. The oxocomplex which is generated electrochemically from the aqua complex [(4,4′-Me2bpy)2(AsPh3)Ru(H2O)]2+ → [(4,4′-Me2bpy)2(AsPh3)RuO]2+ + 2e + 2H+ has been used in homogeneous electrooxidations of benzyl alcohol, 1-phenylethanol and cyclohexene. The reactivity of this complex is compared to that of the analogous complex [Ru(4,4′-Me2bpy)2(PPh3)(H2O)](ClO4)2.