Remarkable Effect of Halogens on Catalytic Activities of Thiolato-Bridged Diruthenium Complexes in Propargylic Substitution Reactions

Thiolato-bridged dibromo- and diiododiruthenium complexes [{Cp*RuX(mu-SR)}(2)] (X = Br, I; R = Me, Pr-i) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray analysis. Examination of their catalytic activity in propargylic substitution reactions of 1-phenyl-2-propyn-1-ol with some nucleophiles has revealed that the complexes [{Cp*RuX(mu-(SPr)-Pr-i)}(2)] (X = Br, 1) work as catalysts but less effectively in comparison with the well-investigated dichloride analogue [{Cp*RuCl(mu-(SPr)-Pr-i)}(2)].