Bis(styrene)bis(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(0) and its reactions with triphenylphosphine and with alkenes

A complex previously thought to be styrenetris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(0) is shown to be bis(styrene)bis-(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(0). The complex appears to react with aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons to form dihydridotetrakis(triphenyIphosphine)ruthenium(II), RuH2(PPh3)4, but the source of the hydride is shown to be triphenylphosphine.The reactions of the complex with ethylene and other aikenes have been studied and the products characterised by analysis, i.r., and 1H and 31P n.m.r. spectra.New complexes described are: Ru(C2H4)2(C8H8)(PPh3)2, Ru(C4H6)(C8H8)(PPh3)2, Ru(C4H6)2(PPh3)2, RuH(C6H11)(C8H8)(PPh3)2 and Ru(C6H10)(C8H8)(PPh3)2.