Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Reactivity of (5,10,15,20-Tetraphenylporphyrinato)ruthenium(II) (Diethoxycarbonyl)carbene Methanol

The new (porphyrin)ruthenium(II) carbene complex 1 has been prepared by treating (TPP)Ru(CO)[EtOH] with excess diethyl diazomalonate. The good stability of this complex allowed us to determine its structure by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The reactivity of 1 toward various axial ligands (CO, pyridine, triphenylphosphine) is also discussed, as well as its ability, from ethyl diazoacetate, to catalyze the coupling formation of olefins and the cyclopropanation of styrene.