Catalytic oxidation and C–C coupling reactions of new ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes containing PPh3 or AsPh3 co-ligands

New mononuclear ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes of the type [RuX2(EPh3)(L)] (X = Cl or Br; E = P or As; L = monobasic tridentate Schiff base derived from o-aminophenol or o-aminothiophenol with ethylacetoacetate or ethylbenzoylacetate) have been synthesized. The Schiff base ligands chelate to ruthenium through O, N, and O/S by dissociation of the phenolic proton/thiophenolic proton forming chelate rings. These complexes have been characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammetric data of all the complexes showed Ru(III)/Ru(IV) oxidation and Ru(III)/Ru(II) reduction within the range of 0–1.5 V and 0 to −1.5 V with respect to Ag/AgCl, respectively. The complexes were tested as catalysts in the oxidation of alcohols using molecular oxygen at ambient temperature, and also in C–C coupling reactions.