Preparation and structures of ruthenium(III) complexes containing tertiary arsines, tertiary phosphines, and isocyanides

Abstract

Preparation of the complexes [RuCl₃(AsPh₃)₂(py)] and [RuCl₃(PPh₃)₂(py)](py = pyridine) is described. The latter has been treated with a variety of alkyl and aryl isocyanides at room temperature to produce complexes of general formula [RuCl₃(PPh₃)(py)(CNR)]. Dipole-moment measurements on [RuCl₃(AsPh₃)₂(py)] confirm that it possesses a mer arrangement of the chloride groups and a trans arrangement of the arsines. Similar measurements show [RuCl₃(AsPh₃)(bipy)](bipy = 2,2′-bipyridyl) and [RuCl₃(AsPh₃)(py)₂] to possess a mer arrangement of chloride groups with the pyridine molecules cis to one another in the latter complex.