Monitoring of the synthesis of cis and trans ruthenium macrocyclic complexes by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

The synthesis of the complex [Ru(cyclam)Cl-2]Cl (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraaza cyclotetradecane) has been monitored by reversed-phase high-performance liq uid chromatography. The analytical results obtained during the reaction hav e shown that it is feasible to identify and isolate the two isomers cis- an d trans- [Ru(cyclam)- Cl-2]Cl. The use of an octadecylsiloxy preparative co lumn enabled the separation and purification of these two isomers and the c ompounds have been obtained in high purity. The use of reversed-phase high- performance liquid chromatography has afforded complete analytical control of the syntheses of saturated nitrogen-donor macrocyclic complexes of ruthe nium, enabling identification of the cis and trans isomers of the complex [ Ru(cyclam)Cl-2]Cl.