Mono- and Bis-(2,2'-bipyridine) and (1,10-Phenanthroline) Chelates of Ruthenium and Osmium. I. Monochelates of Bivalent, Tervalent, and Quadrivalent Ruthenium

Abstract

Mono(phenanthro1ine) and mono(bipyridine)ruthenium(III) complexes have been prepared by the reaction at 25°C between the hydrochlorides of the bases and aqueous potassium pentachloroaquoruthenate(III), when the insoluble phenanthrolinium and bipyridinium salts of the tetrachlorophenanthrolineruthenate(III) and tetrachlorobipyridineruthenate(III) anions, BH[RuBCl₄], separated almost quantitatively. Elimination of the cation could be effected by oxidation to tetra-chlorophenanthrolineruthenium(IV) or tetrachlorobipyridineruthenium(IV). The latter neutral complexes could then be reduced to yield the acids H[RuBCl₄] or alkali metal salts. The chelating base is firmly bound in these complexes but the chlorine atoms are replaceable successively by a wide variety of ligands such as water, pyridine, or acetylacetone.