Stereocontrol of Metal-Centred Chirality in Rhodium(III) and Ruthenium(II) Complexes with NN'P Ligand.

Rh(III) and Ru(II) complexes, [RhCl(κ-NN'P-L)][SbF] (1) and [RuCl(κ-NN'P-L)] (2), were synthesised using the tetradentate ligand L (L=N,N-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]-[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]methanamine). In each case only one diastereomer is detected, featuring cis-disposed pyridine groups. The chloride ligand trans to pyridine can be selectively abstracted by AgSbF, with the ruthenium complex (2) reacting more readily at room temperature compared to the rhodium complex (1) which requires elevated temperatures.