A Ru(II)-phosphite complex of the type [Ru(p-cymene){P(OCH2CF3)3}(Ph)(OTf)] (1) has been synthesized and characterized as a potential catalyst for olefin hydroarylation. Olefin hydroarylation involves 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 1H-, 31P-, and 19F-NMR spectroscopy. Preliminary catalysis attempts involving benzene and 1-hexene yielded a stoichiometric amount of 2-phenyl-1-hexene based on 1 by GC-MS. The complex [Ru(Ph-Me6){P(OCH2CF3)3}(Cl)2] (2), where Ph-Me6 = hexamethylbenzene, has been prepared. Complex 2 has been isolated and fully characterized as a precursor on the route toward [Ru(Ph-Me6){P(OCH2CF3)3}(Ph)(OTf)] in order to compare reactivity as the neutral arene donor is varied between p-cymene and hexamethylbenzene. The preparation of 1 and 2 and characterization by multinuclear NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction will be presented as well as initial catalytic results involving complex 1.

Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of ruthenium(II) complexes involving p-cymene and hexamethylbenzene ligands

249th National Meeting (2015)

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