A series of piano-stool Ru(II) complexes of the type [Ru(p-cymene)(L)(Cl)2] {L = tris(4-fluorophenyl)phosphine, tris(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)phosphine, tris[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphine, tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphite, and tris(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)phosphite} have been prepared from the dimeric complex [Ru(p-cymene)(Cl)2]2 and two equivalents of L at room temperature. These complexes have been fully characterized by multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. All have been isolated as analytically pure orange to red solids, and as the number of fluorine atoms increase the color becomes more red. Initially, the complex [Ru(p-cymene){P(OCH2CF3)3}(Ph)(OTf)] (1) has been synthesized from [Ru(p-cymene){P(OCH2CF3)3}(Cl)2] as a potential catalyst for olefin hydroarylation. Olefin hydroarylation is defined as the formation of a new C-C bond via addition of an aromatic C-H bond across an olefin. Complex 1 has been isolated as an analytically pure yellow solid and fully characterized by multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy. Preliminary catalysis attempts involving the reaction of benzene and 1-hexene with 2 mol% 1 yielded a stoichiometric amount of 2-phenyl-1-hexene by GC-MS. Salient characterization details of these complexes, the reactivity of 1 for potential catalysis, and future directions will be discussed.

Ruthenium(II) complexes supported by electron-rich aromatic ligands for small molecule activation and catalysis

249th National Meeting (2015)

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