Pyrazolyl phosphite and phosphinite ruthenium(II) complexes as catalysts for hydrogenation reactions of benzaldehyde, acetophenone and styrene

M.Sc. (Chemistry)Compounds 2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl diphenlyphosphinite (L1), 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl diphenlyphosphinite (L2), 2-(3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl diphenylphosphinite (L3), 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl diethylphosphite (L4), 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl diethylphosphite (L5) and 2-(3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl diethylphosphite (L6) were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, 31P{1H} NMR and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy. Reactions of L1–L6 with [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2 in 2:1 ratio formed six neutral complexes, [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2(L1)] (1), [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2(L2)] (2), [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2(L3)] (3), [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2(L4)] (4), [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2(L5)] (5) and [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2(L6)] (6). The neutral complexes 1–6 were converted to salts of the general formula [Ru(p-cymene)ClL]X and [NaRu(p-cymene)Cl2L]X {X = BArF- or BPh4-} (1a,1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, and 6a) by reaction of complexes 1–6 with NaBArF (BArF = 3,5-CF3(C6H3) and/or NaBPh4 in 1:1 ratio. Neutral and ruthenium complexes and their salts were characterized by a combination of 1H, 31P{1H} and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and in selected cases by single crystal X-ray crystallography