Ruthenium-mediated amidation of saturated C–H bonds and crystal structure of a bis(tosyl)amidoruthenium(III) complex of 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane

Abstract

A bis(tosyl)amidoruthenium(III) complex of 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me₃tacn) is prepared, and its crystal structure revealed the two tosylamido ligands in a cis configuration; the ‘[Ru^III(Me₃tacn)(NHTs)₂(OH)] + Ag(I) or PhINTs’ protocol can effect amidation of saturated C–H bonds, and an electrophilic tosylimidoruthenium intermediate is implicated based on Hammett correlation studies and trapping experiments.