Bis(allyl)-ruthenium(IV) complexes: Promising precursors for catalytic organic synthesis

The present review reports on the chemistry of the bis(allyl)-ruthenium(IV) complexes [{Ru(eta(3):eta(3)-C10H16)(mu-Cl)Cl}(2)] (C10H16 = 2,7-dimethylocta-2,6-diene-1,8-diyl) and [Ru(eta(3):eta(2):eta(3)-C12H18)Cl-2] (Cl2H18 = dodeca-2,6,10-triene-1,12-diyl). Stoichiometric reactions allowing the preparation of a variety of organoruthenium(IV) and (II) derivatives, as well as the involvement of these species in a series of catalytic organic transformations are presented.