Coordination chemistry and catalytic activity of ruthenium(II) complexes containing a phospha-macrocyclic ligand

Substitution of [RuCl2(CO)(3)(THF)], [RuCl2(dmso)(4)] and [RuCl2(PPh3)(3)] with a macrocyclic ligand, 2,3,4,5,6, 7,8,9-octahydro-1,9-diphenyl-1H-5,1,9-benzazadiphosphacyclo undecine (11-P2NH), provided [Ru(11-P2NH)Cl-2(CO)] (3), [Ru(11-P2NH)Cl-2(dmso)] (4) and [Ru(11-P2NH)Cl-2(CH3CN)] (5), respectively. These complexes were characterized by elemental analyses as well as NMR spectroscopy. The structure of 3 was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The octahedral geometry around the ruthenium center is in agreement with the Werner's coordination bonding concepts. The chelate rings of the macrocycle toward Ru(II) center adopting into chair conformations were revealed. Furthermore, these ruthenium complexes were found to be active for N-alkylation of dibenzylamine with alcohols. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.