ELECTRON-TRANSFER CATALYZED SUBSTITUTION OF DODECACARBONYLTRIRUTHENIUM MEDIATED BY DIBENZOYLETHYLENE - A FACTORIAL DESIGN EXPERIMENT

The electron-transfer catalysed substitution of PPh(3) for CO on Ru-3( CO)(12) mediated by dibenzoylethylene was studied using a factorial de sign experiment. Within the range of conditions investigated, the effi ciency of the reaction was affected exclusively by a two-factor intera ction between the Ru-3(CO)(12) and PPh(3) concentrations. Maximum turn over numbers were achieved only when both of these concentrations were at their high levels. The dibenzoylethylene concentration and the cur rent had no significant effect on efficiency. Other phosphines (PR(3), R = Me and/or Ph or Bu), P(OMe)(3) and Bu(t)NC show similar reactivit y.