Ruthenium carboxylate complexes [Ru(O2CR)(2)(H2O)(Me2SO)(3)] (R = Me, CF3)-synthesis and X-ray crystal structures.

Reactions of [RuCl2(Me2SO)(4)] with silver carboxylates, [Ag(O2CR)] (R = Me , CF3) in cold dichloromethane afford the title compounds, [Ru(O2CR)(2)(H2O )(Me2SO)(3)] in good yield as pale cream crystals. X-ray crystal structure determinations have been performed on both complexes. In each case the geom etry about the ruthenium centre is essentially octahedral with three S-bond ed Me2SO ligands arranged in a fac configuration, two monodentate carboxyla te anions and a coordinated H2O molecule. The carboxylate ligands are H-bon ded to the H2O ligand via their non-coordinated oxygen atoms. The structure s are compared with those previously reported for the alcohol dehydrogenati on catalyst [Ru(O2CCF3)(2)(MeOH)(CO)(PPh3)(2)] and a closely related ruthen ium carboxylate complex [Ru(O2CCF3)(2)(H2O)(PMe3)(3)]. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.