1,8-Diazabicycloundec-7-ene as a ligand in an intermediate in selective carbonyl substitution of a ruthenium-cobalt complex

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(88)80222-5

1,8-Diazabicyclo<5.4.0>undec-7-ene, DBU, reacts with (OC)4Ru(μ-PPh2)Co(CO)3 (1) at room temperature to give an intermediate 2, which on protonation in the presence of CO regenerates 1 and on protonation in the presence of PMe3 gives the monosubstituted product (OC)3(L)Ru(μ-PPh2)Co(CO)3 (3 L=PMe3).DBU promotes the selective formation of 4 (L=PPh2Me) or 5 (L=Ph2PCH2C(Me)=CH2) in one-step from 1, Ph2PH, and methyl iodide or methallyl chloride, respectively.