Synthesis of new ruthenium (II) complexes containing isocyanide and labile nitrile ligands

Abstract

A new ruthenium(II) complex containing both acetonitrile and propionitrile moieties as coordinating ligands has been prepared. The treatment of the polymer [{RuCl₂(COD)}x], (COD = cycloocta-1,5-diene) (1) with a mixture of acetonitrile and propionitrile under reflux produced a new precursor [RuCl₂(COD)(NCCH₃)(CH₃CH₂CN)] (2). Also the compound [RuCl₂L₄] (3) (L = 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide) was prepared through a ligand exchange of a derivative of 1, [RuCl₂(COD)(NCCH₃)₂] (4), with 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide. The two compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, IR and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) measurements. The ruthenium in both compounds has distorted octahedral coordination geometry.

Keywords: Nitrile ligands, ruthenium(II), 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide, spectroscopic analysis