Facile Synthesis of (η⁵-Ph₄C₄COH)(CO)₂RuCl and Catalytic Oxidation of Alcohols with Chloroform

Abstract

A hydroxycyclopentadienyl ruthenium chloride, (η5-Ph4C4COH)(CO)2RuCl (2), is formed quantitatively by heating the Shvo complex, {[(η5-Ph4C4CO)]2H}Ru2(CO)4(μ-H) (1), in chloroform containing a stoichiometric amount of ethanol. Alcohols are oxidized by the use of 1 or 2 as the catalyst in chloroform with sodium carbonate. Secondary alcohols and primary diols are oxidized selectively to give ketones and lactones, respectively, in excellent yields.