Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Ruthenium bidentate phosphine complexes for the coordination and catalytic dehydrogenation of amine- and
Araminta E W Ledger1, Charles E Ellul, Mary F Mahon
1Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
Abstract:
Addition of the amine-boranes H(3)B⋅NH(2)tBu, H(3)B⋅NHMe(2) and H(3)B⋅NH(3) to the cationic ruthenium fragment [Ru(xantphos)(PPh(3))(OH(2))H][BAr(F)(4)] (2; xantphos=4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene; BAr(F)(4)=[B{3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3)}(4)](-)) affords the η(1)-B-H bound amine-borane complexes [Ru(xantphos)(PPh(3))(H(3)B⋅NH(2)tBu)H][BAr(F)(4)] (5), [Ru(xantphos)(PPh(3))(H(3) B⋅NHMe(2))H][BAr(F)(4)] (6) and [Ru(xantphos)(PPh(3))(H(3)B⋅NH(3))H][BAr(F)(4)] (7). The X-ray crystal structures of 5 and 7 have been determined with [BAr(F)(4)] and [BPh(4)] anions, respectively. Treatment of 2 with H(3)B⋅PHPh(2) resulted in quite different behaviour, with cleavage of the B-P interaction taking place to generate the structurally characterised bis-secondary phosphine complex [Ru(xantphos)(PHPh(2))(2)H][BPh(4)] (9). The xantphos complexes 2, 5 and 9 proved to be poor precursors for the catalytic dehydrogenation of H(3)B⋅NHMe(2). While the dppf species (dppf=1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) [Ru(dppf)(PPh(3))HCl] (3) and [Ru(dppf)(η(6)-C(6)H(5)PPh(2))H][BAr(F)(4)] (4) showed better, but still moderate activity, the agostic-stabilised N-heterocyclic carbene derivative [Ru(dppf)(ICy)HCl] (12; ICy=1,3-dicyclohexylimidazol-2-ylidene) proved to be the most efficient catalyst with a turnover number of 76 h(-1) at room temperature.
More Related Videos
10:52Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex
Published on: July 27, 2022
19:58Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions
Published on: July 30, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration
Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn stereochemistry.
Preparation of Amines: Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Nitration of Benzene