Ruthenium Bisammine Complex and Its Reaction with Aryl Azides

A ruthenium bisammine complex was formed in the reaction of ruthenium 1,4-dibenzyltetraazadiene complex with primary amines at room temperature, which was a versatile precursor for the synthesis of various Ru­(II) complexes through ligand exchange reactions. In the reaction with azidobenzene, ruthenium 1,4-diphenyltetraaza-1,3-diene complex was formed, while ruthenium imido complexes were given in the reaction with bulky aryl azides such as 2-azido-1,3-dimethylbenzene and 2-azido-1,3-diisopropylbenzene. The ruthenium imido complexes showed high catalytic activity in the reaction of alkyl azides with primary amines to afford N-substituted imines.