Synthesis of new ruthenium (II) complexes containing isocyanide and labile nitrile ligands

A new ruthenium(II) complex containing both acetonitrile and propionitrile moieties as coordinating ligands has been prepared. The treatment of the polymer [{RuCl2(COD)}x], (COD = cycloocta-1,5-diene) (1) with a mixture of acetonitrile and propionitrile under reflux produced a new precursor [RuCl2(COD)(NCCH3)(CH3CH2CN)] (2). Also the compound [RuCl2L4] (3) (L = 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide) was prepared through a ligand exchange of a derivative of 1, [RuCl2(COD)(NCCH3)2] (4), with 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide. The two compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, IR and NMR (1H and 13C) measurements. The ruthenium in both compounds has distorted octahedral coordination geometry.