Synthesis and characterization of ruthenium (II) carbonyl complexes containing naphthyridine and acetylacetonate ligands and their catalytic activity in the hydrogen transfer reaction

A series of novel complexes of the Ru(L)2(CO)2 L = 2-(3? methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (complex 1), and type Ru(acac) 2(L)(CO) with L = 2-(3? methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (complex 2), 2-(2?-bromophenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (complex 3) and 2-phenyl-1,8-naphthyridine (complex 4) was synthesized and characterized. We found that the complexes 2, 3, and 4 can be directly synthesized from Ru 3(CO)12. The complex Ru(acac)2(L)(CO) L = 2-(3? methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (2) was characterized by X-ray single crystal analysis which confirms the monodentate coordination mode of the 1,8-naphthyridine derivate and the cis arrangement of the acac ligands. Preliminary studies in transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone in the presence of 2-propanol show the good catalytic activity of complex 2 with 92% conversion. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.