The synthesis and the reactivity of arene ruthenium oxalato complexes

This article outlines the reactions of the well known [RuCl(η6-p-cymene)]2(μ-η4-C2O4) and [RuCl(η6-p-cymene)(η2-dppm)][PF6] ruthenium complexes with C2O4 (Me4N) 2 in the mol ratios 1:1 and 2:1. While the 2:1 ratio reaction led to the sole and expected binuclear product {[Ru(η6-p-cymene)(η2-dppm)]2(μ-η2-C2O4)}[PF6]2, the reaction also afforded the unexpected mononuclear complex [RuCl(η2-C2O4)(η6-p-cymene)][Me4N]. This can also be obtained in improved yield by reacting [RuCl2(p-cymene)] 2 with C2O4[Me4N] 2 in a 1:1 mol ratio. Surprisingly, when [RuCl(η6-p-cymene)]2(μ-η4-C2O4) was reacted with an equimolar amount of the ligand dppm, the expected complex {[Ru(η6-p-cymene)]2(μ-η4-C2O4)(μ-dppm)}[PF6]2 was accompanied by [RuCl(η6-p-cymene)(η2-dppm)][PF6] in an inseparable solid mixture.