Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.45, No.10, 3843-3845, 2006
Decarboxylation of 2,2'-bipyridinyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester during microwave synthesis of the corresponding trichelated ruthenium complex
Microwave reaction of RuCl3 with 2,2-bipyridinyl-4,4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (debpy) in ethylene glycol generated Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) instead of the expected Ru(debpy)(3)(2+). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the headspace revealed CO2, and Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) was recovered from the filtrate. Further experiments suggest that RuCl3 decarboxylates debpy during microwave synthesis.