Oxo complexes of ruthenium with N,N′-donors as oxidation catalysts for alkenes, alkanes and alcohols, and their osmium analogues

Catalysis of the epoxidation of alkenes and oxidation of alkanes and alcohols by a variety of bis-bipy (2,2′-bipyridyl) and bis-phen (1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium complexes with NaIO4 or [NBu4] IO4 as co-oxidants has been investigated together with similar oxidations with [RuO2(bipy){IO3(OH)3}]·1.5H2O. The new complexes [RuO2(bipy){TeO2(OH)4}] and [OsO2(L–L){IO3(OH)3}](L–L = bipy, phen or 2,2′-dipyridylamine) have been prepared and characterised.