Halfsandwich complexes of ruthenium(II), rhodium(III) and iridium(III) with N-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyridone ligands

The synthesis and characterization of (p-cymene)Ru-II, Cp*Rh-III and Cp*Ir- III complexes with N-alkyl and N-aryl substituted 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyri done ligands is reported. All compounds display an unusually high solubilit y in water. With the chiral ligand N-(o-C6H4CO2Me)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyr idone two isomers were obtained but no diastereoselectivity was observed. T he structure of [(p-cymene)Ru(C9H12NO2)Cl] (2) was determined by single cry stal X-ray diffraction. Reactions of [p-cymene) Ru(C7H8NO2)Cl] (1) with n-b utylamine and triphenylphosphine were shown to result in substitution of th e chloride ligand. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.