title: Unexpected C-H activation of Ru(II)-dithiomaltol complexes upon oxidation.
abstract: Thione-substituted derivatives of maltol are of interest in several applications of metal-based drugs. In order to investigate the effect of the oxygenation on such thione chelates, Ru complexes of 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-thiopyrone (thiomaltol or Htma) and 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-thiopyran-4-thione (dithiomaltol or Httma), [Ru(bpy)2(tma)](+), 1, and [Ru(bpy) 2(ttma)] (+), 2, were synthesized as diamagnetic PF6(-) salts. Peroxidation of 2 unexpectedly generated products of C-H activation at its pendant methyl group; an air-stable aldehyde [Ru(bpy)2(ttma-aldehyde)](+), 4, was the major product. In addition, an intermediate oxidation product [Ru(bpy) 2(ttma-alcohol)](PF6), 3, was characterized. Both 3 and 4 are also formed by reaction of 2 with outersphere oxidants (e.g., Na2IrCl6) and by bulk electrolysis under anaerobic conditions. Similar oxidations of the analogous [Ru(bpy)2(ettma)](+), 2' , complex (3-hydroxy-2-ethyl-4H-thiopyran-4-thione; ethyl dithiomaltol or Hettma) formed the corresponding ketone, [Ru(bpy)2(ettma-ketone)](PF6), 4', by oxidation at the same position adjacent to the conjugated ring. The structures of the aldehyde 4 and starting materials 1 and 2 have been confirmed by X-ray crystallography, and all complexes have been characterized by UV-vis, (1)H NMR, and IR spectroscopies. Initial mechanistic investigations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, USA.
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Backlund
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ziller
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Farmer
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D008024:Ligands; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011753:Pyrones / Q000737:chemistry*; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D011753:Pyrones; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C008316:maltol; D002244:Carbon; D006859:Hydrogen