Nitrous Oxide Mediated Oxygen Atom Insertion into a Ruthenium−Hydride Bond. Synthesis and Reactivity of the Monomeric Hydroxoruthenium Complex (DMPE)2Ru(H)(OH)

Treatment of (DMPE) 2 Ru(H) 2 with 1 equiv of N 2 O affords the hydroxoruthenium complex (DMPE) 2 Ru(H)(OH) ( 1 ) in 41% yield; further treatment with an atmosphere of N 2 O affords the bis(hydroxo) complex (DMPE) 2 Ru(OH) 2 ( 4 ) in 17% yield. The addition of protic reagents to 1 results in the replacement of the OH group with several other ligands, including aryloxo, thiolato, siloxo, C-bound enolate, acetylide, and triphenylstannyl; more deep-seated changes take place when 1 reacts with p-tolualdehyde and hexafluoroacetone.