1H NMR study of the solvolysis of the paramagnetic tetrachloro-bis(imidazole)ruthenium(III) anion in water, methanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide
The 1H NMR signals of the Ru(III) species present in solution are considerably broadened and shifted by paramagnetism, but they can be used to follow chloride displacement in the trans-[RuCl4Im2]− ion. This anion remains predominant for several hours at room temperature in D2O, but its signals are progressively replaced by those of a monoaqua [RuCl3(D2O)Im2] complex. Over a period of days, two new sets of peaks appear, corresponding to two isomers of [RuCl2(D2O)2Im2]+. The same behaviour is observed for the 1-methyl-and 4-methylimidazole analogues. These reactions can be driven backwards by addition of KCl, but [RuCl4Im2]− is not quantitatively regenerated in solution even for 6 M NaCl. Within several months, the [RuCl2(D2O)2Im2]+ isomers further aquate to a single species [RuCl(D2O)3Im2]2+. In CD3OD, displacement of the first chloride of [RuCl4Im2]− takes place faster, over several hours, but substitution stops at the [RuCl3(CD3OD)Im2] stage. In DMSO, substitution occurs very slowly. The [RuCl3(DMSO)Im2]:[RuCl4Im2]−mixture (1:2) obtained after 12 days starts to show very slow reduction to two Ru(II) species, one of which precipitates as yellow crystals. From X-ray diffraction work (monoclinic, P21/n, a = 9.951, b = 8.564, c = 10.527 Å, β = 92.95°, R = 0.033), the compound was identified as [RuCl2(DMSO-d6)2Im2], where the metal has a trans-trans-trans coordination and the DMSO ligands are S-bonded. Keywords: paramagnetic ruthenium anion, solvolysis, chloro complexes.