Selective oxo-functionalisation of C-H bond with t-BuOOH catalysed by [Ru-III(amp)(bipy)Cl] complex (H(2)amp=N-(hydroxyphenyl)salicyldimine; bipy=2,2' bipyridyl)

[Ru-III(amp)(bipy)Cl] complex (1) has been synthesised and characterised by physico-chemical methods. Complex-1 is found to be an effective catalyst i n the oxidation of cyclohexene to cyclohexene-1-ol, cyclohexane to cyclohex anol and cyclohexanone, stilbenes to stilbene epoxides and benzaldehyde upo n reaction with teut-butylhydroperoxide (t-BuOOH). A high valent Ru(V)-oxo species formed as a catalytic intermediate in the reaction of complex-1 wit h t-BuOOH is proposed as the source of oxygen in the oxidised product. Kine tic data suggests that the formation Ru(V)-oxo is substitution controlled. The results of the product distribution in the present investigation clearl y indicate the high electrophilic nature of Ru=O bond in [Ru-V(amp)(bipy)O] (+) intermediate complex which leads to high affinity for atomic hydrogen/h ydride abstraction. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.