Ruthenium PCP–bis(phosphinite) pincer complexes

The reactions of [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3] with resorcinol bis(phosphinite) pincer ligands lead to complexes of the general formula [RuCl(PCP)(CO)(PPh3)]; the crystal structure of one example has been determined. The structures of the bulky resorcinol 2-methyl-4,6-di-tert-butyl resorcinol and its mono-diisopropylphosphinite derivative were also determined. Reactions of [RuCl2(PPh3)3] with resorcinol bis(phosphinite) ligands yield complexes of the type [RuCl(PCP)(PPh3)], while the reaction of C6H-2-Me-4,6-tBu2-1,3-(OPPh2) with [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3] provides a PCP–pincer complex in which the ligand has undergone 2-methyl C–H activation.