The synthesis of two Ru chloro complexes, Ru
IIICl
3(bpea),
1, and
cis-
fac-
![](/images/gifchars/Delta.gif)
-[Ru
IICl{(
R)-(bpea)}{(
S)-(BINAP)}](BF
4),
cis-
fac-
![](/images/gifchars/Delta.gif)
-(
R)-(
S)-
2, (bpea =
N,
N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine; (
S)-BINAP = 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl), is described. Complex
2 is characterized in
solution through UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that in the
solid state it possesses the samestructure as in
solution, as expected for a low-spin d
6 Ru(II)-type complex. The molecular structure of
cis-
fac-
![](/images/gifchars/Delta.gif)
-(
R)-(
S)-
2, consists of a nonsymmetric complex, where the Ru metal center has a significantly distorted octahedral-type coordination because of the bulkiness of the (
S)-BINAP ligand.
cis-
fac-
![](/images/gifchars/Delta.gif)
-(
R)-(
S)-
2 has a remarkable catalyticperformance at
P = 6.8 atm of H
2 and
T = 70
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
C toward the hydrogenation of prochiral double bonds both fromefficiency and from stereoselectivity viewpoints. As an example, prochiral olefins of technological interest such asdimethyl itaconate, methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate or methyl 2-acetamidocinnamate are catalytically hydrogenated by
cis-
fac-
![](/images/gifchars/Delta.gif)
-(
R)-(
S)-
2, with conversions higher than 99.9% and ee > 99. Furthermore,
cis-
fac-
![](/images/gifchars/Delta.gif)
-(
R)-(
S)-
2, also catalyzesthe selective hydrogenation of
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
-keto esters, although the reaction rates are lower than those found with theformer substrates.