We report an improved synt
hesis of
cis-[Ru(CH
3CN)
2((1-3-
hars/eta.gif" BORDER=0 >)-C
3H
5)((1,2:5,6-
hars/eta.gif" BORDER=0 >)-C
8H
12)]BF
4and its use in t
he synt
hesis of [Ru(bisp
hosp
hine)((1-3:5,6-
hars/eta.gif" BORDER=0 >)-C
8H
11)(CH
3CN)]BF
4 (w
herebisp
hosp
hine = (
R)-BINAP, (
R)-Tol-BINAP). T
hermolyses of t
he complexes [Ru(bisp
hosp
hine)((1-3:5,6-
hars/eta.gif" BORDER=0 >)-C
8H
11)(CH
3CN)]BF
4 afford [Ru(bisp
hosp
hine)((1-5-
hars/eta.gif" BORDER=0 >)-C
8H
11)]BF
4, w
hic
hserve as convenient precatalysts to t
he active
hydrogenation catalysts
fac-[Ru(bisp
hosp
hine)(H)(sol)
3]BF
4 (sol = THF, acetone,
i-PrOH). We compare t
he properties and activities of t
hesecatalysts wit
h t
hose of related, establis
hed systems.