Comparative properties of coordinated H2 and H2S at a ruthenium(II) centre

Thermodynamic data for the reversible formation of cis-RuCl2(P-N)(PPh3)(η(2)-H2) () from trans-RuCl2(P-N)(PPh3) in C6D6 are determined by variable temperature (31)P{(1)H} and (1)H NMR spectroscopy; P-N = o-diphenylphosphino-N,N'-dimethylaniline. Values of ΔH° = -26 ± 4 kJ mol(-1), ΔS° = -40 ± 15 J mol(-1) K(-1), and ΔG° (at 25 °C) = -13.8 ± 0.2 kJ mol(-1) are compared with recently reported data for the corresponding H2S adduct (4a), where the exothermicity is greater by ~20 kJ mol(-1), but this is counteracted by a more unfavourable entropy change, and overall the K and ΔG° values at 25 °C are close. For loss of H2 from 2a in the solid state, whose X-ray structure is presented, ΔH° is 50 ± 3 kJ mol(-1) as measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The pKa values of the coordinated H2 (~11) and H2S (~14) are estimated by reactions of 2a and 4a with proton sponge (1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene) in CD2Cl2 at 20 °C; the mono-hydrido and -mercapto products are identified in situ. A corresponding H2O adduct is not deprotonated under the same conditions. Related dihydrido, mercapto and hydroxy species are formed by in situ reactions of 1a with NaH, NaSH, and NaOH, respectively.