Synthesis, structure and properties of cycloruthenated complexes: crystal structure of mono-chloro-(η6-p-cymene)-{(phenylazo)phenyl}ruthenium(II)

Two cycloruthenated complexes of formulation [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl(L)], where L=(phenylazo)phenyl (pap) (1a) and (4,4′-dimethyl)(phenylazo)phenyl (dmpap) (1b) were prepared from a transmetallation reaction involving [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl2]2 and [HgCl(L)] in refluxing CHCl3 or MeOH. The molecular structure of [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl(pap)] (1a) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex contains a η6-p-cymene group, a chloride and a bidentate C,N-donor orthometallated (phenylazo)phenyl ligand. The complexes have been characterized from NMR data. The orthometallated carbon appears near δ 188 ppm in the 13C-NMR in CDCl3.