Double aromatic amine addition across ruthenium(III) coordinated bis-nitrile function

Abstract

Double aromatic amine addition reaction at a bisacetonitrile complex of ruthenium(III) is reported here. The cationic complex, cis-[(acac)₂Ru(CH₃CN)₂](ClO4) (1) [acac = acetylacetonate] reacts with aniline in neat to produce an orange bis-amidine complex, [RuIII(acac)₂{HN=C(Me)NHPh}₂](ClO₄), [2]ClO₄ in 60% yield. X-ray structure of the complex is also reported. The reaction occurs with addition of two equivalents of PhNH₂ across the two coordinated acetonitrile ligands. Optical spectra and redox properties of the complex have been discussed. It shows a reversible Ru(III)/Ru(II) response at -0.6 V and its visible spectrum is dominated by a broad ligand to metal charge transfer at 505 nm.