Synthesis, structural characterization, and catalytic activity of ruthenium(II) monocarbonyl complexes with bidentate Schiff base and triphenylphosphine ligands.

Treatment of [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3] with equal amounts of equiv. bidentate Schiff base 2[(4-chloro-phenylimino)-methyl]-phenol (HL-Cl) or 2(p-tolylimino-methyl)-phenol (HL-Me) or 2[(4-nitro-phenylimino)-methyl]-phenol (HL-NO2) in the presence of triethylamine afforded [RuCl(?2-N,O-L-Cl)(CO)(PPh3)2] (1), [RuCl(?2-N,O-L-Me)(CO)(PPh3)2] (2), and [RuCl(?2-N,O-L-NO2)(CO)(PPh3)2] (3), respectively. The molecular structures of1,2, and3·1.5C6H14have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Complexes1–3were used for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones as catalysts in the presence ofN-methylmorpholine-N-oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]