STRUCTURE OF NEW TRIDENTATE 2,6-BIS(IMINO)PYRIDYL RUTHENIUM(II) COMPLEXES WITH 2,3,6-TRIMETHYL BENZENAMINE LIGAND
New tridentate 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl ruthenium(II) complexes, [N<sub>3</sub>]Ru(H)(Cl)(2,4,6-(CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>2</sub>NH<sub>2</sub>) (4) and [N<sub>3</sub>]Ru(Cl)<sub>2</sub>(2,4,6-(CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>2</sub>NH<sub>2</sub>) (5) ([N<sub>3</sub>] = 2,6-(2,4,6-(CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>2</sub>N=CCH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>3</sub>N) have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal of complex 4, which has been grown in benzene/cyclohexane by evaporation at room temperature, was studied by X-ray diffraction. Complex 4 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group <i>C</i>2/<i>c</i> with cell parameters of <i>a</i> = 42.243(4) Å, <i>b</i> = 8.1480(5) Å, <i>c</i> = 23.662(2) Å, β = 117.998(1)°, <i>V</i> = 7191.1(10) Å<sup>3</sup>, and <i>Z</i> = 8. The molecular structure of 4 shows a six coordinate, pseudo-octahedral geometry with a <i>trans</i> arrangement of hydrogen and chloride ligands. The mesityl ligands are oriented approximately perpendicular to the 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl ligand plane, and form a pocket surrounding the 2,4,6-trimethyl benzenamine ligand. The coordinated 2,4,6-trimethyl benzenamine (2,4,6-(CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>2</sub>NH<sub>2</sub>) is in the <i>cis</i> to chloride and hydride, <i>trans</i> to pyridine ligand, and lies parallel to one of the mesityl rings.