Reaction of Ru 3 (CO) 12 with two equiv of 6-bromopyridine alcohols 6-bromopyCHROH [(R = C 6 H 5 ( L1 ); R = 4-CH 3 C 6 H 4 ( L2 ); R = 4-OMeC 6 H 4 ( L3 ); R = 4-ClC 6 H 4 ( L4 ); (R = 4-CF 3 C 6 H 4 ( L5 ); R = 2-OMeC 6 H 4 ( L6 ); R = 2-CF 3 C 6 H 4 ( L7 )] and 6-bromopyC(Me) 2 OH ( L8 ) in refluxing xylene afforded novel trinuclear ruthenium complexes [6-bromopyCHRO] 2 Ru 3 (CO) 8 ( 1a-1g ) and [6-bromopyC(Me) 2 O] 2 Ru 3 (CO) 8 ( 1h ). These complexes were characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis. The structures of all the complexes were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. In the presence of tert -butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the source of oxidant, complexes 1a - 1h displayed high catalytic activities for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols and most of oxidation reactions could be completed within 1 h at room temperature.

Dehydrogenative oxidation of secondary alcohols catalyzed by several new trinuclear ruthenium carbonyl complexes under mild conditions was proposed.

Reactions of substituted pyridylalkanol 6‐CH3PyCH2CH(OH)R (R = Ph (L1H), R = 4‐CH3C6H4 (L2H), R = 4‐OCH3C6H4 (L3H), R = 4‐ClC6H4 (L4H), R = 4‐BrC6H4 (L5H), R = 4‐CF3C6H4 (L6H)) with Ru3(CO)12 in refluxing tetrahydrofuran afforded the corresponding ruthenium carbonyl complexes [6‐CH3PyCH2CHRO]2Ru3(CO)8 (R = Ph (1a), R = 4‐CH3C6H4 (1b), R = 4‐OCH3C6H4 (1c), R = 4‐ClC6H4 (1d), R = 4‐BrC6H4 (1e), R = 4‐CF3C6H4 (1f)) in good yields. These ruthenium complexes were well characterized using elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopies. Furthermore, their crystal structures were determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 1a–1f were found to be highly active toward oxidation of a wide range of primary and secondary alcohols to corresponding aldehydes and ketones within 5 minutes in the presence of N‐methylmorpholine‐N‐oxide as oxidant.

Five novel trinuclear ruthenium carbonyl complexes were synthesized and their application in oxidation of secondary alcohols was also researched.