Ligand C–C bond cleavage on ruthenium: observation of a reversible ruthenium(V)–imido/ruthenium(II)–amine couple and X-ray crystal structure of [Ru(bpy)2(NHCMe2)2](PF6)2(bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine)
Abstract
A reversible three-proton three-electron couple has been observed for the electrochemical oxidation of cis-[Ru(bpy)2(L)]2+(L = 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-diaminobutane) in aqueous acidic solution; controlled-potential electrochemical oxidation of cis-[Ru(bpy)2(L)]2+ led to C–C bond cleavage in L and formation of cis-[Ru(bpy)2(NHCMe2)2]2+ whose structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography.