PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CIS-A-[RU(BPY)(2)(PY)(O)](2+)

Hydrolysis of optically active cis-[Ru(bpy)(2)(py)Cl]-(PF6) yields cis -[Ru(bpy)(2)(py)(H2O)](ClO4)(2) with 80% retention of configuration. T he oxidation to cis-[Ru(bpy)(2)(py)(O)](ClO4)(2) is also found to invo lve retention of the absolute configuration. This optically active oxi dant is slow to racemize and has been characterized by circular dichro ism spectroscopy. Asymmetric oxidation of a prochiral methyl p-tolyl s ulfide to a chiral sulfoxide by the chiral oxidant complex is observed with 30% ee in a water-acetonitrile mixture.