Fourteen ruthenium(II) complexes of the type [RuCl2(eta(6)-arene)L], (arene = 1,4-MeC6H4Pri or C6Me6; L = benzimidazole derivative in which the NH group is substituted by N-alkyl or isoelectronic O or S atoms) have been prepared by cleavage of [RuCl2(eta(6)-arene)](2) with the N-heterocycle L. Their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties are described. The effect of the nature of the benzazole (L) on the catalytic activity of these complexes for the intramolecular cyclization of (Z)-3-methylpent-2-en-4-yn-1-ol into 2,3-dimethylfuran has also been studied; the benzimidazole complexes were found to be the most active.
C1 Inonu Univ, Fen Edebiyat Fak, TR-44280 Malatya, Turkey.
Univ Rennes 1, Lab Chim Coordinat & Catalyse, CNRS, UMR 6509, F-35042 Rennes, France.