Synthesis, characterization, and substituent effects of mononuclear ruthenium complexes [RuCl(CO)(PMe3)3(CHdouble bond; length as m-dashCH-C6H4-R-p)] (R = H, CH3, OCH3, NO2, NH2, NMe2)

A series of mononuclear ruthenium complexes [RuCl(CO)(PMe3)3(CHdouble bond; length as m-dashCH-C6H4-R-p)] (R = H (2a), CH3 (2b), OCH3 (2c), NO2 (2d), NH2 (2e), NMe2 (2f)) has been prepared. The respective products have been characterized by elemental analyses, NMR spectrometry, and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The structures of complexes 2c and 2d have been established by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical studies have revealed that electron-releasing substituents facilitate monometallic ruthenium complex oxidation, and the substituent parameter values (σ) show a strong linear correlation with the anodic half-wave or oxidation peak potentials of the complexes.