Facile Synthesis of (η⁵-Ph₄C₄COH)(CO)₂RuCl and Catalytic Oxidation of Alcohols with Chloroform

A hydroxycyclopentadienyl ruthenium chloride, (η 5 -Ph 4 C 4 COH)(CO) 2 RuCl ( 2 ), is formed quantitatively by heating the Shvo complex, {[(η 5 -Ph 4 C 4 CO)] 2 H}Ru 2 (CO) 4 (μ-H) ( 1 ), in chloroform containing a stoichiometric amount of ethanol. Alcohols are oxidized by the use of 1 or 2 as the catalyst in chloroform with sodium carbonate. Secondary alcohols and primary diols are oxidized selectively to give ketones and lactones, respectively, in excellent yields.