Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Ruthenium complexes with tetraphenylimidodiphosphinate: syntheses, structures, and applications to catalytic organic
Wai-Man Cheung1, Ho-Yuen Ng, Ian D Williams
1Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Treatment of Ru(PPh3)3Cl2 with K(tpip) (tpip(-)=[N(Ph2PO)2](-)) afforded Ru(tpip)(PPh3)2Cl (1), which reacted with 4- t-Bu-C6H4CN, SO2(g), and NH 3(g) to give Ru(tpip)(PPh3)2Cl(4- t-BuC6H4CN) (2), Ru(tpip)(PPh3)2Cl(SO2) (3), and fac-[Ru(NH3)3(PPh3)2Cl][tpip] (4), respectively. Reaction of [Ru(CO)2Cl2] x with K(tpip) in refluxing tetrahydrofuran (THF) led to isolation of the K/Ru bimetallic compound K 2Ru2(tpip)4(CO)4Cl2 (5). Photolysis of cis-Ru(tpip) 2(NO)Cl in MeCN and wet CH 2Cl 2 afforded cis-Ru(tpip) 2(MeCN)Cl ( 6) and cis-Ru(tpip)2(H2O)Cl (7), respectively. Refluxing 6 in neat THF yielded Ru(tpip) 2(THF)Cl (8). Treatment of Ru(CHR)Cl2(PCy3)2 (Cy=cyclohexyl) with [Ag(tpip)] 4 afforded cis-Ru(tpip)2(CHR)(PCy3) [R=Ph (9), OEt (10)]. Complex 9 is capable of catalyzing oxidation of alcohols and olefins with N-methylmorpholine N-oxide and iodosylbenzene, respectively. The crystal structures of 2-7 and 9 were determined.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkenes: Wittig Reaction Mechanism
The reaction begins with the nucleophilic addition between a phosphorus ylide and the carbonyl compound. Due to its carbanionic character, phosphorus ylide acts as a strong nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic carbonyl group. This generates a charge-separated dipolar intermediate called betaine. The negatively charged oxygen atom and...
Preparation of Epoxides
Epoxides result from alkene oxidation, which can be achieved by a) air, b) peroxy acids, c) hypochlorous acids, and d) halohydrin cyclization.
Epoxidation with Peroxy Acids
Epoxidation of alkenes via oxidation with peroxy acids involves the conversion of a carbon–carbon double bond to an epoxide using the oxidizing agent meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, commonly known as MCPBA. Since the O–O bond of peroxy acids is very weak, the addition of electrophilic oxygen of peroxy acids to...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.

