Ruthenium Janus-head complexes with a triazolediylidene ligand.: structural features and catalytic applications

The use of the ligand triazolediylidene (ditz), has afforded the preparation of two new complexes of Ru in which the ligand is bridging two metal fragments in a facially opposed (Janus-head) disposition. One of the complexes is dinuclear (2) and the other tetranuclear (3). The tetranuclear compound displays interesting structural features, as shown by the X-ray diffraction studies. The two complexes have been tested in the catalytic ss-alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols, providing high activities when both aliphatic and aromatic alcohols are used.