An Unprecedented Oxidative Migration of a Methyl Group from 2-(2,6-Dimethylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol Mediated by Ruthenium and Osmium

An unprecedented chemical transformation of 2-(2ʹ,6ʹ-dimethylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol has been observed upon its reaction with [M (PPh3)3X2] (M = Ru, Os; X = Cl, Br) whereby one methyl group from the phenyl ring of the arylazo fragment migrates to the metal center via oxidation to CO.