Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of New Water-Soluble Ruthenium(II)−N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes

The new water-soluble complexes [RuXY(1-butyl-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene)(p-cymene)] n + (X = Cl-, H2O; Y = Cl-, H2O, 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (pta); n = 0−2) catalyze the hydrogenation of various olefins, aldehydes, and ketones and the redox isomerization of allyl alcohol in aqueous solution under mild conditions and are suitable for the modification of lipid membranes by catalytic hydrogenation.