Synthesis and properties of hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate (Tp) ruthenium complexes with benzophenone imine: X-ray crystal structure of [TpRu(HNCPh2)(PEt3)2][BPh4]

The complexes [TpRuCl(dippe)] (dippe=1,2-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ethane) and [TpRuCl(PEt3)2] react with HNCPh2 and NaBPh4 in MeOH affording the cationic mononuclear imine derivatives [TpRu(HNCPh2)(dippe)][BPh4] and [TpRu(HNCPh2)(PEt3)2][BPh4], respectively. The X-ray crystal structure of the latter has been determined. The reaction of [TpRuCl(PMeiPr2)(MeCN)] with HNCPh2 led to the neutral imine derivative [TpRuCl(PMeiPr2)(HNCPh2)], which adds a second imine ligand upon chloride dissociation affording the cationic bis(imine) complex [TpRu(PMeiPr2)(HNCPh2)2]+. The cationic complexes [TpRu(HNCPh2)(dippe)][BPh4] and [TpRu(HNCPh2)(PEt3)2][BPh4] react with KOBut in tetrahydrofuran yielding the neutral metalated species [TpRu(σ-η1-C6H4C(Ph)NH)(dippe)] and the phenyl complex [TpRu(σ-η1-C6H5)(PEt3)2], respectively. All compounds were characterized by IR, NMR and microanalysis.