Stoichiometric Applications of eta6-Arene Ruthenium(II) Complexes in Organic Chemistry

eta6-Arene ruthenium (II) complexes are versatile and potentially valuable synthetic Intermediates that have seen applications in diverse areas of organic chemistry. Though not as widely utilized as other arene metal complexes, arene ruthenium derivatives exhibit unique and useful reactivity patterns, and are typically easily handled air- and moisture-stable materials. This review summarizes the salient features of three common types of arene ruthenium (II) complexes: piano stool complexes, bis (arene) complexes, and (arene)Ru(II) cyclopentadienyl complexes. Typical preparative methods and common reactions of these ruthenium derivatives are presented. In addition, selected applications of arene ruthenium (II) complexes in organic chemistry are discussed. These applications include the use of arene ruthenium (II) complexes in “bioorganometallic” chemistry, as intermediates in the synthesis of macrocyclic peptides, as models suitable for mimicking the action of hydrotreating catalysts, as intermediates and constituents of organometallic polymers, and as building blocks in supramolecular chemistry.