Chemistry of ruthenium with some phenolic ligands: synthesis, structure and redox properties

Reaction of three phenolate ligands, viz. salicylaldehyde (HL1), 2-hydroxyacetophenone (HL2) and 2-hydroxynaphthylaldehyde (HL3), (abbreviated in general as HL, where H stands for the phenolic proton) with [Ru(PPh3)3Cl2] in 1¦1 mole ratio gives complexes of the type[Ru(PPh3)2(L)Cl2]. The structure of the [Ru(PPh3)2(L2)Cl2] complex has been solved by X-ray crystallography. The coordination sphere around ruthenium isO2P2Cl2 with a cis-trans-cis geometry, respectively. The [Ru(PPh3)2(L)Cl2] complexes are one-electron paramagnetic (low-spin d5, S=½) and show rhombic ESR spectra in 1¦1 dichloromethane-toluene solution at 77 K. In dichloromethane solution the [Ru(PPh3)2(L)Cl2] complexes show several intense LMCT transitions in the visible region. Reaction between the phenolic ligands and [Ru(PPh3)3Cl2] in 2¦1 mole ratio in the presence of a base affords the [Ru(PPh3)2(L)2] complexes in two isomeric forms. 1H NMR spectra of one isomer shows that it does not have any C2 symmetry and has the cis-cis-cis disposition of the three sets of donor atoms. 1H NMR spectra of the other isomer shows that it has C2 symmetry. The structure of the isomer of the [Ru(PPh3)2(L1)2] complex has been solved by X-ray crystallography. The coordination sphere around ruthenium is O4P2 with a cis-trans-cis disposition of the carbonylic oxygens, phenolate oxygens and phosphorus atoms, respectively. The [Ru(PPh3)2(L)2] complexes are diamagnetic (low-spin d6, S=O) and show intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on the [Ru(PPh3)2(L)Cl2] complexes shows a ruthenium(III)---ruthenium(II) reduction near -0.3 V versus SCE and a ruthenium(III)---ruthenium(IV) oxidation in the range 1.08-1.24 V versus SCE. Cyclic voltammetry on both isomers of the [Ru(PPh3)2(L)2] complexes shows a ruthenium(II)---ruthenium(III) oxidation within 0.09-0.41 V versus SCE, followed by a ruthenium(III)-ruthenium(IV) oxidation within 1.31-1.52 V versus SCE