Synthesis of chloro(2-methylimidazole) ruthenium(III) complexes and their aqueous solution chemistry, and the crystal structure of [2-MeImH]2[RuCl52-MeIm]
2-Methylimidazole (2-MeIm) reacts with RuCl3 in aqueous acidic ethanolic medium to give (2-MeImH)2[RuCl5(2-MeIm)] (1) and (2-MeImH)[RuCl4(2-MeIm)2] (2) (2-MeImH = protonated 2-methylimidazole), the ratio depending on reaction conditions used. Molecule 1 crystallizes in the space group Pnma: a = 14.046(2), b = 17.294(2), and c = 8.2778(12) Å. The 1H NMR spectra of these ruthenium(III) complexes have been measured and show peaks with large isotropic shifts and large line broadening characteristic of such paramagnetic complexes. The aquation of complexes 1 and 2 were followed by proton NMR spectroscopy. 1,2-Dimethyl imidazole (1,2-diMeIm) reacts with RuCl3 in methanolic solution to give [RuCl3(1,2-diMeIm)(H2O)S] (S=H2O (3a) or CH3OH (3b)). The aquation reactions of complexes 3a and 3b were followed by 1H NMR.Key words: ruthenium, paramagnetic, antitumour, NMR.