New Ru complexes containing the N-tridentate bpea and phosphine ligands: Consequences of meridional vs facial geometry

A family of Ru(II)-Cl complexes bearing the N-tridentate N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine (bpea) ligand and the P-bidentate (1,2-diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) ligand is described. A strong influence of the facial versus meridional geometry in the bpea ligand coordination mode is seen for these catalytic reactions, with the meridional isomer being much more active than the facial one and even capable of carrying out the H-transfer reaction of bulky substrates such as 2,2-dimethylpropiophenone (DP) at room temperature.