Preparation of Alkanechalcogenolate- and Benzenechalcogenolate-Bridged Diruthenium Complexes and Their Catalytic Activity toward Propargylation of Acetone with Propargylic Alcohol

Various alkanechalcogenolate (SR, SeR, TeR)- and benzenechalcogenolate (SPh, SePh, TePh)-bridged diruthenium complexes have been newly prepared, and their catalytic activity toward the propargylation of acetone with propargylic alcohol has been investigated for comparison. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations of syn and anti methanechalcogenolate-bridged, propane-2-selenolate-bridged, and benzenethiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes have been carried out to explain the reason for favorable formation of either isomer.