Synthesis and X-ray studies of ruthenium(II) complexes containing hydrazine and benzyl isocyanide ligands

Abstract

The reaction of the polymeric species [{RuCl₂(COD)}_x] (1; x > 2; COD = cyclo-octa-1,5-diene) and hydrazine hydrate in methanol under reflux gave a pale pink solution from which the salt [Ru(COD)(N₂H₄)₄][BPh₄]₂.CH₃OH (2) was isolated on addition of NaBPh₄. Treatment of 2 in refluxing acetone in the presence of the ligand benzyl isocyanide give a complex of stoichiometry [Ru(NH₂N=CMe₂)₂(PhCH₂NC)₄][BPh₄]₂ (3) on the substitution of the labile COD ligand. The two compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR and NMR measurements and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The ruthenium in both compounds has a distorted octahedral coordination geometry.

KEY WORDS: Cycloocta-1,5-diene, Hydrazine hydrate, Isocyanide, Ruthenium

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2013, 27(3), 405-411.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v27i3.9