Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of cationic Ru(II) arene complexes [Ru(η6-arene)(P)Cl(L)]+. (P=PPh3, PEt3, MePPri2 and L=4-cyanopyridine or 1,4-dicyanobenzene)

Reactions of [Ru(η6-arene)(P)Cl2] (P=PPh3, PEt3 or MePPri2) with organonitriles 4-cyanopyridine or 1,4-dicyanobenzene (referred hereafter as CNPy or DCB) in methanol, in the presence of NH4PF6, gives the cationic arene complexes [Ru(η6-arene)(P)Cl(L)]+ (L=CNPy or DCB). The reaction products have been characterized by physico-chemical methods viz., elemental analyses, IR, 1H-, 13C-, 31P-NMR, electronic and FAB mass spectra. The spectral data of the complexes revealed the presence of a pendant nitrile group. These could behave as potential metallo-ligands and could find wide application in the syntheses of homo- or heterobimetallic mixed valence bridged complexes.