First Ruthenium Complex of Glyoxalbis(N-phenyl)osazone (LNHPhH2): Synthesis, X-ray Structure, Spectra, and Density Functional Theory Calculations of (LNHPhH2)Ru(PPh3)2Cl2

The first ruthenium complex containing the parent osazone ligand, glyoxalbis(N-phenyl)osazone (LNHPhH2), is reported. The complex (LNHPhH2)Ru(PPh3)2Cl2 (1) was characterized with mass, IR, 1H NMR, and UV−vis spectroscopy as well as with theoretical calculations. Density functional theory calculations on the model compound (LNHPhH2)Ru(PMe3)2Cl2 (2) reproduce the geometrical features observed for 1 and verify that it formally contains a ruthenium(II) metal center coordinated by a neutral osazone. Subsequent bonding analyses identify π-interactions between the occupied orbitals of the metal fragment and the LUMO of the osazone, which results in transfer of approximately 0.3 electrons from the …