Synthesis and characterization of half-sandwich ruthenium(II) complexes with N-alkyl pyridyl-imine ligands and their application in transfer hydrogenation of ketones

A series of new arene ruthenium(II) complexes were prepared by reaction of ruthenium(II) precursors of the general formula [(eta(6)-arene)Ru(mu-Cl)Cl](2) with N,N'-bidentate pyridyl-imine ligands to form complexes of the type [(eta(6)-arene)RuCl(C5H4N-2-CH=N-R)]PF6, with arene = C6H6, R = iso-propyl (1a), tert-butyl (1b), cyclohexyl (1c), cyclopentyl (1d) and n-butyl (1e); arene = p-cymene, R = iso-propyl (2a), tert-butyl (2b). The complexes were fully characterized by H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopies, elemental analyses, and the single-crystal X-ray structures of 2a and 2b have been determined. The single-crystal molecular structure revealed both compounds with a pseudo-octahedral geometry around the Ru(II) center, normally referred to as a piano stool conformation, with the pyridyl-imine as a bidentate N,N ligand. The activity of all complexes in the transfer hydrogenation of cyclohexanone in the presence of NaOH and iso-propanol is reported, the compounds showing turnover numbers of close to 1990 and high conversions. Complex 2b was also shown to be very effective for a range of aliphatic and cyclic ketones, giving conversions of up to 100 %.