Selective oxo-functionalisation of C–H bond with t-BuOOH catalysed by [RuIII(amp)(bipy)Cl] complex (H2amp=N-(hydroxyphenyl)salicyldimine; bipy=2,2′bipyridyl)

[RuIII(amp)(bipy)Cl] complex (1) has been synthesised and characterised by physico–chemical methods. Complex-1 is found to be an effective catalyst in the oxidation of cyclohexene to cyclohexene-1-ol, cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, stilbenes to stilbene epoxides and benzaldehyde upon reaction with tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BuOOH). A high valent Ru(V)-oxo species formed as a catalytic intermediate in the reaction of complex-1 with t-BuOOH is proposed as the source of oxygen in the oxidised product. Kinetic data suggests that the formation Ru(V)-oxo is substitution controlled. The results of the product distribution in the present investigation clearly indicate the high electrophilic nature of Ru=O bond in [RuV(amp)(bipy)O]+ intermediate complex which leads to high affinity for atomic hydrogen/hydride abstraction.