HOMOGENEOUS CATALYSIS IN WATER - ON THE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A RUTHENIUM WATER-SOLUBLE COMPLEX - PRELIMINARY HYDROGENATION OF OLEFINS IN A BIPHASIC SYSTEM

A novel route for the synthesis of the water-soluble ruthenium complex , [HRu(CO)Cl(TPPMS)(3)]. 2H(2)O (I) is reported. The synthesis of I wa s accomplished via ligand exchange, in a biphasic water/toluene medium , after 4 h of refluxing. TPPMS is the sodium salt of monosulfonated-t riphenylphosphine, [Ph(2)P(C6H4SO3Na). 3H(2)O]. Complex I has been pre viously reported in the literature, but attempts to obtain it by the i ndicated route resulted in a mixture of products, difficult to separat e (Z. Toth, F. Joo and M.T. Beck, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 42 (1980) 153-161 ). The characterization of I was achieved by spectroscopy methods, inc luding XPS. The water stability of I was followed by UV-Vis spectrosco py, before and after its use as a catalyst precursor in the hydrogenat ion of olefins. I is stable in water and shows catalytic activity. It hydrogenated styrene to ethyl benzene (TN/h 3.0; 86% conversion) and c yclohexene to cyclohexane (TN/h: 1.1; 25% conversion), in a biphasic w ater/decaline mixture. The hydrogenation is influenced by stirring.