(Ethylenediaminetetraacetato)nitrosylruthenium, an efficient oxygen-atom transfer agent

Abstract

The complex [Ru(edta)(NO)](edta = ethylenediaminetetraacetate) has been synthesised and characterised by physicochemical methods. An X-ray single-crystal analysis shows that the metal ion has an octahedral disposition with five-co-ordinated edta and NO⁺ bound in a linear manner. The free carboxylic acid moiety is deprotonated to balance the charge of NO⁺ in the neutral complex. The complex is an excellent oxygen-atom transfer agent towards hex-1-ene to form hexan-2-one and cyclohexene to form epoxide in a catalytic cycle with no need for a cocatalyst. The catalyst retains its activity over many turnovers.