Selective Hydrogenation of Ruthenium Acylphosphine Complexes

Hydrogenation
of a benzene ruthenium chloride dimer in the presence
of novel acyl­phosphine (phosphomide) ligands resulted in the
formation of corresponding ruthenium­(II)–benzyl phosphine complexes.
Here, selective reduction of the carbonyl group to a methylene unit
takes place with molecular hydrogen under mild conditions in good
yield. This approach provides an alternative synthesis of ruthenium
phosphine complexes of benzyl and heterobenzyl phosphine ligands.