Abstract:
The modified reactivity observed when a substituted arene is complexed to a
cycIopentadienylruthenium moiety has been exploited to prepare a range of
synthetically interesting target molecules.
Activation of nitrogen- and halogen- substituted arenes has been achieved by
compIexation to the cyclopentadienylruthenium moiety.
Double nucleophilic substitution reactions between substituted (7 6- 1,2-dichlorw
benzene)RuCp+ salts and substituted 1,2-benzenediols were carried out under mild
conditions to prepare substituted (q6-dibenzodioxin)ruthenium complexes. Both mono- and
di-substituted dibenzodioxin complexes were prepared. The dibenzodioxin ligands
were subsequently liberated by photolysis.
The complexation of a range of substituted benzimidazoles to the cyclopentadienylruthenium
moiety has been studied. Several complexes were isolated and
structures proposed.
The metal moiety has been used to influence the stereoselection achieved in the
reduction of carbonyl substituted arenes. A number of keto-arene complexes were
prepared and reduced with sodium borohydride. The resulting alcohol complexes were
characterised and the observed diastereoselectivity rationalised.
Yanovsky-like adducts were prepared by nucleophilic addition to the cationic
ruthenium salts to produce neutral (n5-cyclohexadienyl)ruthenuim complexes. A
comparison between lithium, silicon and tin enolates was undertaken.