Degradation of the ruthenium-based metathesis catalyst [RuCl2(double bond; length as m-dashCHPh)(H2IPr)(PCy3)] with primary alcohols

A new ruthenium hydride species, showing high catalytic isomerization and hydrogenation properties, was isolated via a ligand exchange reaction. The same species was also present in the mixture of degradation products of the monophosphinic complex RuCl(CO)(PCy)3(IPr)CH(Ph), 3, after reaction with alcohols under basic conditions.