Reaction of Cp*RuCl(PPh3)2 with dioxygen and formation of a neutral complex Cp*RuCl(O2)(PPh3)

Reaction of Cp*RuCl(PPh3)2 (1) with atmospheric oxygen occurs at room temperature in the presence of acetone or methylene chloride leading to Cp*RuCl(O2)(PPh3) (2). This complex is remarkably stable in the solid state and it can also release, under not unduly harsh conditions, the activated oxygen molecule, which can oxidize the phosphite L=MeOP[(OCHMe)2CH2] to the corresponding phosphate, along with formation of the mono- and disubstituted Cp*RuCl(PPh3)(L) (5), Cp*RuCl(L)2 (6) and [Cp*RuCl(PPh3)(L)2]Cl (7), complexes. Structural information of phosphite derivatives 5 and 6 has been obtained by X-ray diffraction.