Synthesis, spectral and electrochemical studies of ruthenium(II)/(III) complexes of alicyclic beta-ketamines

A series of ruthenium(II)/(III) complexes of alicyclic beta -ketamines deri ved from 2-formylcyclohexanone and 4-X-substituted anilines, HFCA-X (where H is an ionisable enolic hydrogen and X = H, Cl, Br, OMe and NO2), have bee n prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The IR spectral d ata suggest the coordination of enolic oxygen and imino nitrogen to rutheni um. Ruthenium(II) complexes are diamagnetic (low spin d(6), S = 0) and in s olutions show intense MLCT transition. Their redox behaviours have been stu died by cyclic voltammetry. The solid state low temperature ESR spectra of Ru(III) complexes show a low spin symmetry.