Bis(bipyridine) ruthenium(ii) bis(phosphido) metalloligand: synthesis of heterometallic complexes and application to catalytic (E)-selective alkyne semi-hydrogenation.

The first phosphido derivative of the bis(bipyridine) ruthenium(ii) fragment, cis-[(bpy)2Ru(PPh2)2] ([RuP2]), has been developed and applied as a P-donor metalloligand to form new Ru-Rh, Ru-Ir and Ru2Cu2 heterometallic complexes. The Ru-Ir hydride complex [([RuP2])IrH(NCMe)3][BF4]2 exhibits significant catalytic activity for (E)-selective semi-hydrogenation of alkynes.