New Approach to Ru(II) Pincer Ligand Chemistry. Bis(<i>t</i><i>ert</i>-butylaminomethyl)pyridine Coordinated to Ruthenium(II)

Reaction of 2,6-bis-(tBuNHCH2)2NC5H3 (“N2py”) with RuCl2(PPh3)3 gives two isomers of Ru(N2py)Cl2(PPh3), 5, while reaction with RuCl2(DMSO)4 (DMSO = Me2SO) gives isomerically pure Ru(N2py)Cl2(DMSO), whose structure is reported. The PPh3 of 5 can be replaced by CO, P(OPh)3, or pyridine. The chlorides in Ru(N2py)Cl2(CO) can both be replaced by F3CSO3-. Isomer structure preferences are discussed, and the reaction of Ru(N2py)Cl2(pyridine) with O2 gives apparent oxidation of N2py to give the diimine.