Hydroruthenation of propargyl amines promoted by the 16-electron complex RuHCl(CO)(PiPr(3))(2)

The 16-electron complex RuHCl(CO)(Pipr(3)) (1) reacts with propargyl amines H-C=C(CH2)(n)Y (2-5) (n = 1, 2; Y= NMe2, N(Me)CH2Ph, or Py) by insertion t o afford the five-coordinate vinyl-complexes RnCl{(E)-CH=CH(CH2)(n)Y} (CO)( PiPr(3))(2) (6, Y = NMe2, n = 1; 7, Y = N(Me)CH2Ph, n = 1; 8, Y= Py, n = 2; 9, Y = NMe2, n = 2) in good yield. Addition of CO to 7 produces the six-co ordinate vinyl-complex RuCl{(E)-CH=CH(CH2)(n)Y} (CO)(2)(PiPr(3))(2) (10). T he trans stereochemistry at the C=C bond is observed in all compounds. All compounds were characterized by IR, H-1, C-13 and P-31 NMR spectroscopy.