A deprotonated ethylenediamine complex of ruthenium

Abstract

A compound has been isolated which is responsible for the intense yellow colour often observed in solutions of ethylenediamine complexes of ruthenium-(II) and -(III). This product is formulated as a tris-ethylenediamine complex of ruthenium(VI) in which the ethylenediamine ligands are partially deprotonated, [Ru(en – 2H)(en – H)₂]I₂. Its visible absorption spectrum has an intense band at 448 nm. The i.r. spectrum and various other physical and chemical properties are described.