[(Bisphosphine) Ru(II) diamine] complexes in asymmetric hydrogenation: expanding the scope of the diamine ligand.

[(Bisphosphine) RuCl 2 (1,2-diamine)] complexes are powerful catalysts in the asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized ketones. We sought to expand the scope and applicability of these complexes by exploring changes to the diamine structural motif. Via introduction of 1,3- and 1,4-diamines, the catalytic activity was significantly altered such that new classes of ketones could be considered for [(bisphosphine) RuCl 2 (diamine)] asymmetric hydrogenation.

Octahedral bipyridine and bipyrimidine dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes: characterization, application in catalytic epoxidation, and density functional mechanistic study.

Complexes of the general formula [MoO(2)X(2)L(2)] (X=Cl, Br, Me; L(2)=bipy, bpym) have been prepared and fully characterized, including X-ray crystallographic investigations of all six compounds. Additionally, the highly soluble complex [MoO(2)Cl(2)(4,4'-bis(hexyl)-2,2'-bipyridine)] has been synthesized. The reaction of the complexes with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is an equilibrium reaction, and leads to MoV(I) eta(1)-alkylperoxo complexes that selectively catalyze the epoxidation of olefins.