Synthesis of tridentate 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl aminechlorohydro ruthenium(II) complexes: The convenient use of amine hydrochlorides to generate metal-hydride

The reaction of low-valent ruthenium complexes with 2,6-bis(imino)pyridine ligand, [η2-N3]Ru(η6-Ar) (1) or {[N3]Ru}2(μ-N2) (2) with amine hydrochlorides generates six-coordinate chlorohydro ruthenium (II) complexes with amine ligands, [N3]Ru(H)(Cl)(amine) (4). Either complex 1 or 2 activates amine hydrochlorides 3, and the amines coordinate to the ruthenium center to give complex 4. This is a convenient and useful synthetic approach to form ruthenium complexes with amine and hydride ligands using amine hydrochloride.