Low oxidation state ruthenium chemistry . IV. The reactions of M(CO)2(PPh3)3 complexes (M=Fe, Ru) and the hydrogenation and isomerization of alkenes catalysed by cis-Ru(H)2(CO)2(PPh3)2

The complexes M(CO)2(PPh3)3 (I, M = Fe; II, M = Ru) readily react with H2 at room temperature and atmospheric pressure to give cis-M(H)2(CO)2(PPh3)2 (III, M = Fe;IV,M = Ru). I reacts with O2 to give an unstable compound in solution, in a type of reaction known to occur with II which leads to cis-Ru(O2)(CO)2(PPh3)2(V). Even compound IV reacts with O2 to give V with displacement of H2; this reaction has been shown to be reversible and this is the first case where the displacement of H2 by O2 and that of O2 by H2 at a metal center has been observed. III and IV are reduced to M(CO)3(PPh3)2 by CO with displacement of H2; Ru(CO)3- (PPh3)2 is also formed by treatment of IV with CO2, but under higher pressure. Compounds II and IV react with CH2CHCN to give Ru(CH2CHCN)(CO)2- (PPh3)2(VI) which reacts with H2 to reform the hydride IV. cis-Ru(H)2(CO)2(PPh3)2(IV) has been studied as catalyst in the hydrogenation and isomerization of a series of monoenes and dienes. The catalysts are poisoned by the presence of free triphenylphosphine. On the other hand the ready exchange of H2 and O2 on the "Ru(CO)2(PPh3)2" moiety makes IV a catalyst not irreversibly poisoned by the presence of air. It has been found that even Ru(CO)2(PPh3)3(II) acts as a catalyst for the isomerization of hex-1-ene at room temperature under an inert atmosphere.