Oxidation of alcohol to co-ordinated carboxylate with a dioxygen complex of ruthenium. Examples of reversible hydrogen transfer to an isocyanide ligand
Abstract
The dioxygen complex, Ru(O2)(CO)(CNR)(PPh3)2(R =p-tolyl), reacts with alcohols, R′CH2OH (R′= Me, Et, or Ph) forming Ru(O2CR′)(CHNR)(CO)(PPh3)2; when the bidentate carboxylate group is replaced by iodide the ruthenium hydride RuHI(CO)(CNR)(PPh3)2 results which reacts with acetate with returns of hydride to the isocyanide ligand forming Ru(O2CMe)(CHNR)(CO)(PPh3)2.