An anionic dinuclear BINAP-ruthenium(II) complex: Crystal structure of [NH(2)Et(2)][{RuCl((R)-p-MeO-BINAP)}(2)(mu-Cl)(3)] and its use in asymmetric hydrogenation

Treatment of [RuCl2(COD)](n) with (R)-p-MeO-BINAP (p-MeO-BINAP = 2,2'-bis(bis(p-methoxyphenyl)-phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl) in toluene in the presence of triethylamine afforded the anionic dinuclear complex [NH(2)Et(2)][{RuCl((R)-p-MeO-BINAP)}(2)(mu-Cl)(3)] ((R)-2), whose structure has been determined by an X-ray crystallographic study. Complex 2 is an efficient catalyst for asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized olefins and ketones.