Metal–oxo photo-oxidants: photochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons by trans-dioxo complexes of ruthenium(VI) and osmium(VI)
Abstract
The synthesis of trans-[RuVI(L)(O)2]Y2(Y = PF6 or ClO4) and trans-[RuIV(L)(NCO)(O)]ClO4{L =meso-1,2,6,10,11-pentamethyl-2,6,10-triaza[11](2,6)pyridinophane} is described; irradiation of trans-[RuVI(L)(O)2]2+ and [OsVI(CN)4(O)2]2–(λ > 330 nm) in presence of organic substrates yielded the corresponding oxidized organic products indicating that the (dxy)1(dπ*)1 excited states of RuVI- and OsVI-oxo complexes are reactive towards epoxidation of alkenes and to oxidation of C–H bonds.