Synthesis, characterization and catalytic studies of ruthenium(II) chalconate complexes

Stable ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes of the type [RuCl(CO)(EPh3)(B)(L)] (E = P or As; B = PPh3, AsPh3 or Py; L = 2'-hydroxychalcones) were synthesized from the reaction of [RuHCl(CO)(EPh3)(2)(B)] (E = P or As; B = PPh3, AsPh3 or Py) with 2'-hydroxychalcones in benzene under reflux. The new complexes were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic (IR, electronic H-1, P-31 and C-13 NMR) data. They were assigned an octahedral structure. The complexes exhibited catalytic activity for the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols into their corresponding alclehydes and ketones in the presence of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMO) as co-oxidant and were also found to be efficient transfer hydrogenation catalysts. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.