Unprecedented examples of double-addition of aromatic amines across a ruthenium(II)-coordinated nitrile function: isolation and x-ray structures of ruthenium complexes of amidinate and cyclometalated amidine

Abstract

The present report examplifies a novel type of aromatic amine addition reactions at a ruthenium(II) complexed acetonitrile. The electrophilic cationic complex, cis-[L₂Ru(CH₃CN)₂](ClO₄)₂ (1) [L=2-(phenylazo)pyridine] reacts with aromatic primary amines only in neat to produce a violet amidinate complex, [L₂Ru-N(Ar)-C(CH₃)-N(Ar)]⁺ (2) of ruthenium(II). Along with it a blue ortho-metalated ruthenium(II) amidine complex, [L₂Ru-N(H)=C(CH₃)-N(H)Ar]⁺ (3) is also formed. X-ray structures of the two representative complexes are reported. The transformation 1 → 2 is unprecedented, involves multiple steps and occurs with addition of two equivalents of ArNH₂ across a coordinated nitrile function. In this complex, amidinate ligand binds to ruthenium(II) center as a σ,σ symmetrical bidentate chelate. The formation of 3 is a combination of nucleophilic amine addition and cyclometalation. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of the products are examined, which are consistent with their formulations and structures. Optical spectra and redox properties of the newly synthesized complexes are reported. Visible range spectra of 2 and 3 are dominated by moderately intense metal-to-ligand charge transfer transitions. The complexes show multiple redox responses. The anodic potential response occurs at a high positive potential, which is attributed to a Ru(II)/Ru(III) couple. The cathodic potential responses are due to reductions of the coordinated diazo ligands.