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Updated: May 14, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Stepwise metal-ligand cooperation by a reversible aromatization/deconjugation sequence in ruthenium complexes with a
Robert Langer1, Ido Fuchs, Matthias Vogt
1Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel.
Abstract:
The synthesis and reactivity of ruthenium complexes containing the tetradentate phenanthroline-based phosphine ligand 2,9-bis((di-tert-butylphosphino)methyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (PPhenP) is described. The hydrido chloro complex [RuHCl(PPhenP)] (2) undergoes facile dearomatization upon deprotonation of the benzylic position, to give [RuH(PPhenP-H)] (4). Addition of dihydrogen to 4 causes rearomatization of the phenanthroline moiety to trans-[Ru(H)(2)(PPhenP)] (5), followed by hydrogenation of an aromatic heterocycle in the ligand backbone, to give a new dearomatized and deconjugated complex [RuH(PPhenP*-H)] (6). These aromatization/deconjugation steps of the coordinated ligand were demonstrated to be reversible and operative in the dehydrogenation of primary alcohols without the need for a hydrogen acceptor. This aromatization/deconjugation sequence constitutes an unprecedented mode of a stepwise cooperation between the metal center and the coordinated ligand.
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