SCHIFF-BASE COMPLEXES OF RUTHENIUM(III), MOLYBDENUM(VI) AND URANIUM(VI), AND USE OF THE FORMER AS CATALYTIC ORGANIC OXIDANTS

The new complexes [RuIIIX2(AsPh3)2(HL)] (X = Cl, Br; HL = monoanions of Schiff bases formed from condensation of 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and aniline or its omicron- and p-substituted derivatives), cis-[MoO2(HL)2] and trans-[UO2(HL)2.nH2O] (n = 0 or 2) have been isolated. They were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The ruthenium(III) complexes were found to be effective catalysts for oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes, secondary alcohols to ketones and 3,5-di(tert-butyl)catechol to the corresponding omicron-benzoquinone in the presence of N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide as co-oxidant.