Reaction of Tris(β-diketonato)ruthenium(III) Complexes with Strong Acids in Acetonitrile. Formation of Bis(acetonitrile)bis(β-diketonato)ruthenium(III) Complexes

Bis(acetonitrile)bis(β-diketonato)ruthenium(III) was readily formed through the reaction of the corresponding tris(β-diketonato)ruthenium(III) with perchloric, sulfuric, or hydrochloric acid in acetonitrile. The reaction was quantitative; the stoichiometry was 1:1 for each strong acid studied here. This reaction was employed to prepare several bis(acetonitrile)bis(β-diketonato)ruthenium(III) complexes, which proved to be convenient intermediates for the synthesis of mixed-ligand β-diketonato ruthenium(III) complexes of the [RuIIIL2L′] type.