Ruthenium(II) and Iridium(III) Complexes Bearing Phosphinepyridonate and Phosphinequinolinolate Chelates

Straightforward preparation of five-membered P,N and P,O prochelates was easily achieved from 6-methyl-2-pyridinol and 2-quinolinol. From these ligands, access to the corresponding well-defined ruthenium(II) and iridium(III) complexes was investigated. Owing to the hemilability as well as the reversible proton-responsive character of these chelates, the resulting well-defined ruthenium complexes exhibit interesting activities in hydrogenation.