Acceptor pincer Ru(II) chemistry

A series of new acceptor pincer Ru(II) complexes are reported. The carbonyl complex ((CF(3))PCP)Ru(CO)Cl(2)(-)Et(3)NH(+) is obtained from the reaction of (CF(3))PCPH with [(cod)Ru(μ-Cl)(2)](n). Chloride displacement with (CF(3))PCPH, CO, PPh(3), or C(2)H(4) gave complexes of the type ((CF(3))PCP)Ru(CO)(L)Cl, or in the case of (CF(3))PCPH, the bridged dimeric complex [((CF(3))PCP)Ru(CO)Cl](2)(μ-(CF(3))PCPH). Chloride abstraction from ((CF(3))PCP)Ru(CO)(L)Cl, L = CO or PPh(3) by (Et(3)Si)(2)(μ-H)(+)B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-) followed by Et(3)N addition produced ((CF(3))PCP)Ru(CO)(L)(H) products. Reaction of cis-((CF(3))PCP)Ru(CO)(2)Cl with (Et(3)Si)(2)(μ-H)(+)B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-) in the presence of excess CO afforded ((CF(3))PCP)Ru(CO)(3)(+). The reaction of (CF(3))PCPH with (PPh(3))(3)Ru(H)(O(2)CR) (R = Me or Ph) produced the corresponding carboxylate complexes ((CF(3))PCP)Ru(PPh(3))(O(2)CR).