Synthesis, structural characterisation and catalytic application of dichloro(η 6-p-cymene){diphenyl(3-methyl-2-indolyl)phosphine}ruthenium(II) in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones

The synthesis and investigation of ruthenium complexes containing the relatively unexplored ligand, diphenyl-2-(3-methyl)indolylphosphine, is presented herein. The complexes [RuCl2{PPh2(C9H8N)}(3)], [Ru-2(mu-Cl)(3)(Cl)(MeCN){PPh2(C9H8N)}(4)] and [RuCl2(eta (6)-p-cymeme){PPh2(C9H8N)}] have been studied. Single crystals of the latter two complexes have been prepared and investigated by X-ray crystallography. A detailed examination of [RuCl2(eta (6)-p-cymeme){PPh2(C9H8N)}] has been carried out. This complex was found to be an active catalyst in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketones. The complex, [RuCl2(eta (6)-p-cymeme){PPh2(C9H8N)}], was synthesised and fully characterised by spectroscopic, analytical and structural methods. The complex was also found to be an active catalyst in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones.