The reactions of enimines and various silicon, germanium, and tin derivatives with
[Cp*RuCl]4 have been investigated and found to lead to a variety of products, depending on
the nature of the enimine and the reaction conditions. In general, mixtures of products were
obtained comprised of Cp*Ru(η5-azadienyl), Cp*Ru(η3-azadienyl)Cl2, and Cp*Ru(η4-amino-1,3-diene)Cl complexes. Significant differences in both product preferences and overall yields
were observed between the silicon, germanium, and tin reagents, the last typically favoring
the η5 complexes. The choice of solvent also played a major role, the η5 complex being slightly
to somewhat disfavored in THF relative to benzene. An attempt to convert an η4-aminodiene
complex, Cp*Ru[η4-CH3CHCHC(CH3)CHNH(t-Bu)], to an η5-azadienyl complex through
reaction with Ag+ in the presence of K2CO3 led to a mixture of species, which included the
desired η5 complex as well as an unusual Cp*Ru(η3-dienimine)Cl species, which arose from
a formal two-electron oxidation followed by two deprotonations, from the nitrogen center
and the internal methyl group. Coordination in this species occurs through the nitrogen
center and the distal olefin. Structural confirmation for this species, as well as for one η4
and three η5 complexes, has been obtained.