η3-Allylruthenium Complexes and Ruthenium-Catalysed Nucleophilic Substitution of Allylic Substrates

Recent developments in the chemistry of η3-allylruthenium complexes (synthesis and reactivity) are described. Among different possible preparations, their straightforward formation via oxidative addition of allylic substrates occurs either at ruthenium(0) or ruthenium(II) centres. Subsequent reaction with an electrophile or a nucleophile is the basis of their ambiphilic involvement in catalysis. In this review, we focus on catalytic substitution of allylic substrates by C, N, O and S-nucleophiles, and show that selected ligands make possible stereospecific, as well as regio- and enantioselective substitutions.