Convenient preparation of mononuclear and dinuclear ruthenium hydride complexes for catalytic application

Abstract

A mixture of commercially available [Ru(cod)(η³-C₄H₇)₂] and PCy₃ reacts with H₂ to give [RuH₂(H₂)₂(PCy₃)₂] in high yields, whereas [Ru{Cy₂P(CH₂)₃PCy₂}(η³-C₄H₇)₂] leads to [{Cy₂P(CH₂)₃PCy₂}RuH(µ-H)₃Ru(H₂){Cy₂P(CH₂)₃PCy₂}] under identical conditions; this new synthetic procedure provides convenient access to this type of ruthenium hydrides for investigation of their potential in catalytic reactions like the Murai-reaction.