Synthesis and Characterization of Derivatives of a Hydroxymethyl Ruthenium Complex

Reaction of cis-Ru(bpy)2(CO)CH2OH+PF6 - (1, bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine) with acetic anhydride yields the corresponding acetoxymethyl derivative 2. However, reaction of 1 with a large excess of acetic acid in acetonitrile yields compound 3, containing an acetamidomethyl ligand instead of the acetoxymethyl group. Compounds 2 and 3 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography; in the crystalline state, 3 exists as a binuclear compound held together by hydrogen bonds to a single water molecule through the acetyl carbonyl groups.