Stoichiometric and catalytic oxidations of alkanes and alcohols mediated by highly oxidizing ruthenium-oxo complexes bearing 6,6-dichloro-2,2-bipyridine

The catalytic activities of the ruthenium(II) complex cis-[Ru(6,6-Cl2bpy)2(OH2)2](CF3SO3)2 (1) in organic oxidations using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as terminal oxidant are presented. Mechanistic studies showing a large primary kinetic isotope effect suggest a hydrogen-atom abstraction pathway for these oxidations. Data from these studies reveal that oxidations of saturated hydrocarbons by complex 2, the '1+TBHP' protocol and Gif-type systems are not similar from a mechanistic viewpoint.