Half-sandwich η6-arene–ruthenium(II) complexes bearing 1-alkyl(benzyl)-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthroline (IP) derivatives: the effect of alkyl chain length of ligands to catalytic activity

The reaction of bromoalkanes (R–Br; (3), R=CnH2n+1, n=4 (a), 8 (b), 12 (c),18 (d)) and bromobenzyl derivatives (R′–Br; (4), R′=CH2C6H2(CH3)3-2,4,6 (a); CH2C6H(CH3)4-2,3,5,6 (b); CH2C6(CH3)5 (c)) with 1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthroline (IP)(L2) gave the corresponding 1-R-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthroline (IPR)(L3a–d) and 1-R′-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthroline(IPRʹ)(L4a–c) ligands, respectively. Treatment of L3a–d and L4a–d with [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2 led to the formation of [Ru(p-cymene)(IPR)Cl]Cl (RuL3a–d) and [Ru(p-cymene)(IPR′)Cl]Cl (RuL4a–c). New ruthenium(II) complexes RuL3a–d and RuL4a–c were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV–visible and NMR spectroscopy. In order to understand effects of these changes on the N-substituent of imidazol on IP and how they translate to catalytic activity, these new RuL2, RuL3a–d and RuL4a–c were applied in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones by 2-propanol in presence of potassium hydroxide. The activities of the catalysts were monitored by NMR and GC analysis.