Synthesis and characterization of ruthenium (II) carbonyl complexes containing naphthyridine and acetylacetonate ligands and their catalytic activity in the hydrogen transfer reaction

International audienceA series of novel complexes of the Ru(L)(2)(CO)(2) L = 2-(3' methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (complex 1), and type Ru(acac)(2)(L)(CO) with L = 2-(3' methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (complex 2), 2-(2'-bromophenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (complex 3) and 2-phenyl-1,8-naphthyridine (complex 4) was synthesized and characterized. We found that the complexes 2, 3, and 4 can be directly synthesized from Ru-3(CO)(12). The complex Ru(acac)(2)(L)(CO) L = 2-(3' methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (2) was characterized by X-ray single crystal analysis which confirms the monodentate coordination mode of the 1,8-naphthyridine derivate and the cis arrangement of the acac ligands. Preliminary studies in transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone in the presence of 2-propanol show the good catalytic activity of complex 2 with 92% conversion. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved