Ru(II)(η6-p-cymene) complexes supported on linear chiral and achiral poly(spirophosphazene-pyridine) copolymers

The reaction in dichloromethane at room temperature of the polyspirophosphazene copolymer {[NP(O2C12H8)](0.7)[NP(OC5H4N)(2)](0.3)}(n) (1) (O2C12H8= 2,2' dioxybiphenyl) with [Ru-2(eta(6)-p-cymene)(2)Cl-4] gives the polymer supported organometallic complex {[NP(O2C12H8)](0.7)[NP(OC5H4N-Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene) Cl-2)(2)](0.3)}(n) ( 2). Similarly the chiral phosphazene {[NP(O2C20H12)](0.9)[NP(OC5H4N)(2)](0.1)}(n) ( 3) (O2C20H12 = R-2,2'-dioxy, 1'1'-binaphthyl) reacts with the appropriate amount of the Ru precursor to give the related polymeric complex {[NP(O2C20H12)](0.9) [NP(OC5H4N)(OC5H4N-Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene)Cl-2](0.1)}(n) (4) as an orange solid. Carrying out the reaction of 3 with the Ru precursor in acetone at room temperature using 0.35 equivalents of Ru per pyridine site, gives the crosslinked yellow material with formula {[NP(O2C20H12)](0.9)[NP(OC5H5N)(2)](0.1)[Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene) Cl-2](0.07)]}(n) (5), that may contain cationic [Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene) Cl](+) units trapped in the rigid interior of a chiral network.