Ruthenium(III) acetylacetonate is a

coordination complex A coordination complex is a chemical compound consisting of a central atom or ion, which is usually metallic and is called the ''coordination centre'', and a surrounding array of chemical bond, bound molecules or ions, that are in turn known as ' ...

with the formula Ru(O₂C₅H₇)₃. O₂C₅H₇⁻ is the ligand called acetylacetonate. This compound exists as a dark red solid that is soluble in most organic solvents. It is used as a precursor to other compounds of ruthenium.

Preparation

In 1914 tris(acetylacetonato)ruthenium(III) was first prepared by the reaction of ruthenium(III) chloride and

acetylacetone Acetylacetone is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is classified as a 1,3-diketone. It exists in equilibrium with a tautomer . The mixture is a colorless liquid. These tautomers interconvert so rapidly under most conditions that ...

in the presence of

potassium bicarbonate Potassium bicarbonate ( IUPAC name: potassium hydrogencarbonate, also known as potassium acid carbonate) is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula KHCO3. It is a white solid. Production and reactivity It is manufactured by treating an ...

. Since then, alternative synthetic routes have been examined, but the original procedure remains useful with minor variations: :RuCl₃•3H₂O + MeCOCH₂COMe → Ru(acac)₃ + 3 HCl + 3 H₂O

Structure and properties

This compound has idealized D₃ symmetry. Six oxygen atoms surround the central ruthenium atom in an octahedral arrangement. The average Ru-O bond length in Ru(acac)₃ is 2.00 Å. Because Ru(acac)₃ is low spin, there is one unpaired ''d'' electron, causing this compound to be paramagnetic. Ru(acac)₃ has a magnetic susceptibility, χ_M, of 3.032×10⁻⁶ cm³/mol with an effective magnetic moment, μ_eff, of 1.66 μ_B. As a solution in

dimethylformamide Dimethylformamide, DMF is an organic compound with the chemical formula . Its structure is . Commonly abbreviated as DMF (although this initialism is sometimes used for 2,5-dimethylfuran, dimethylfuran, or dimethyl fumarate), this colourless liqui ...

, the compound oxidizes at 0.593 and reduces at -1.223 V vs the

ferrocene Ferrocene is an organometallic chemistry, organometallic compound with the formula . The molecule is a Cyclopentadienyl complex, complex consisting of two Cyclopentadienyl anion, cyclopentadienyl rings sandwiching a central iron atom. It is an o ...

ferrocenium Ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate is an organometallic compound with the formula e(C5H5)2F4. This salt is composed of the cation e(C5H5)2sup>+ and the tetrafluoroborate anion (). The related hexafluorophosphate is also a popular reagent with simi ...

couple. Reduction of Ru(acac)₃ in the presence of

alkenes In organic chemistry, an alkene, or olefin, is a hydrocarbon containing a carbon–carbon double bond. The double bond may be internal or at the terminal position. Terminal alkenes are also known as Alpha-olefin, α-olefins. The Internationa ...

affords the related diolefin complexes. Typically, such reactions are conducted with

zinc Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic tabl ...

amalgam Amalgam most commonly refers to: * Amalgam (chemistry), mercury alloy * Amalgam (dentistry), material of silver tooth fillings ** Bonded amalgam, used in dentistry Amalgam may also refer to: * Amalgam Comics, a publisher * Amalgam Digital, an in ...

in moist

tetrahydrofuran Tetrahydrofuran (THF), or oxolane, is an organic compound with the formula (CH2)4O. The compound is classified as heterocyclic compound, specifically a cyclic ether. It is a colorless, water- miscible organic liquid with low viscosity. It is ...

: :2 Ru(acac)₃ + 4 alkene + Zn → 2 Ru(acac)₂(alkene)₂ + Zn(acac)₂ The resulting compounds are rare examples of metal-alkene complexes that reversibly sustain oxidation: :Ru(acac)₂(alkene)₂ u(acac)₂(alkene)₂sup>+ + e⁻ The complex has been resolved into individual

enantiomer In chemistry, an enantiomer (Help:IPA/English, /ɪˈnænti.əmər, ɛ-, -oʊ-/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''ih-NAN-tee-ə-mər''), also known as an optical isomer, antipode, or optical antipode, is one of a pair of molecular entities whi ...

s by separation of its adduct with dibenzoyltartaric acid.

References

{{Acetylacetonate complexes Ruthenium complexes Acetylacetonate complexes Ruthenium(III) compounds