Synthesis, spectral and catalytic dehydrogenation studies of ruthenium complexes containing NO bidentate ligands

The synthesis and characterization of ruthenium mononuclear complexes containing NO bidentate ligands are reported. The complexes cis-[Ru-II(bpy)(2)L](PF6)(n) (1a-c), [(RuCl)-Cl-III(L)(2)(H2O)] (2a-b) and [(RuCl2)-Cl-III(L)(2)]Cl (2c) were prepared by the reaction of cis-[(RuCl2)-Cl-II(bpy)(2)]center dot 2H2O (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) and/or RuCl3 center dot nH(2)O with the Ligands: 2-aminophenol (2-aph), 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-hq) and 4-aminoantipyrine (4-apy). These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic (IR, UV-Vis, H-1 NMR, ESR) and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The ligand field parameters, Delta(0) (splitting parameter), B (Racah parameter of interelectronic repulsion), and beta (nephelauxetic ratio) were calculated. The redox properties were also investigated electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry. The complexes cis-[Ru-II(bpy)(2)(8-hq)](PF6)(2) (1b) and [(RuCl)-Cl-III(8-hq)(2)(H2O)] (2b) have been investigated in conjunction with N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMO) as co-oxidant for the catalytic dehydrogenation of benzyl amine, p-methyl benzylamine and p-nitrobenzylamine to their respective nitriles. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.