SYNTHESIS AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF RUTHENIUM(III) UNSYMMETRICAL SCHIFF-BASE COMPLEXES

Ruthenium(III) unsymmetrical Schiff base complexes, [Ru(CHBPH-TP)Cl2] and K[Ru(CHBPH-HB)Cl2] were synthesized, where CHBPH-TP and CHBPH-HB are 5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzophenonethiophencarba aldehydephenylenediimine and 5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzophenonehydroxybenzophenonephenylenediimine. These Schiff bases were obtained from the reactions of 5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzophenone (CHB) and 2-Thiophenecarbaldehyde (TP) or hyroxybenzophenone (HB) and 1,2-diaminobenzene. Elemental analysis, conductivity and infrared studies of the complexes suggest an octahedral geometry around ruthenium. Magnetic moments of the complexes indicate a single unpaired electron in a low spin d5 configuration. The complexes are capable of catalyzing the oxidation of styrene with sodium hypochlorite in the presence of phase transfer agent. Oxidative cleavage of C=C bond is the major reaction pathway to form benzaldehyde for styrene oxidation.