Novel Ru(II) oximato complexes with silent oxygen atom: Synthesis,chemistry and biological activities

A series of octahedral complexes, [Ru(CO)(EPh₃)₂(bhmh)] (E = P or As; H₂bhmh = benzoic acid (2-hydroxyimino-1-methyl-propylidene)-hydrazide), [Ru(CO)(EPh₃)₂(ihmh)] (H₂ihmh = isonicotinic acid (2-hydroxyimino-1-methyl-propylidene)-hydrazide), [Ru(CO)(EPh₃)₂(hhmh)] (H₂hhmh = 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid (2-hydroxyimino-1-methyl-propylidene)-hydrazide) have been prepared by a facile procedure. X-ray structure determination of three of the complexes revealed that the hydrazone ligand coordinates through the imine and the oxime nitrogen and the amide oxygen atoms. In all the complexes, the N–OH moiety of the oxime is deprotonated to give an N–O^? species and this oxygen atom did not coordinate to the central metal atom. The oxidation–reduction processes for each of these complexes have been determined in CH₃CN by cyclic voltammetry. The complexes displayed two oxidation couples and one irreversible reduction response between +1.6 and ?1.6 V. The trend in the half wave potentials reflects the electronic nature of the hydrazone ligand. Antibacterial activity of the ligands and the complexes has been evaluated against five pathogenic bacteria. The binding of the complexes with herring sperm DNA has also been investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.     

Effect of nitrogen-donor ancillary ligand on oxidation behavior of Co(III) binuclear complexes with conjugated bis(catecholate) ligands

Two binuclear complexes of cobalt(III) have been prepared with 3,3′,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-5,5′-di-tert-butylbenzaldazine (H₄thBu) as bis(catecholate) ligand and two different ancillary ligands, 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or 2,2′-dipyridylamine (dpa). These compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR spectra, electrochemical measurements and UV–Vis spectra. In one case, [Co₂(dpa)₄(thBu)]²⁺, electrochemical oxidation of the complexes occurs at the bridges as two closely spaced one-electron couples (E_1/2 = 1 mV and 168 mV versus Fc/Fc⁺). Chemical oxidation of [Co₂(dpa)₄(thBu)]²⁺ using Ag⁺ is observed to occur as a stepwise two-electron process forming [Co₂(dpa)₄(thBu^Cat,SQ)]³⁺ or [Co₂(dpa)₄(thBu^SQ,SQ)]⁴⁺ by UV–Vis spectrum. However, [Co₂(bpy)₄(thBu)]²⁺ shows no change in electronic spectrum under the same conditions of oxidation. This illustrates the dependence of redox properties of the binuclear Co(III) complexes on the nature of the nitrogen-donor ancillary ligands. In this report we discuss the effect of two different nitrogen-donor ancillary ligands on the0 oxidation behavior of binuclear Co(III) complexes.     

Hydrothermal syntheses and characterizations of two novel heteropolytungstate supported coordination compounds

Two novel heteropolytungstates, [Ni(2,2′-bpy)₃]_1.5{PW_10.79V_1.21O₄₀(VO)_0.5[Ni(2,2′-bpy)₂L]} · 0.5H₂O (1) (2,2′-bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, L = 0.5H₂O + 0.5OH^?) and K[PW₁₂O₄₀[Ni(1,10-phen)₂(OH)]₂] · 2H₂O (2) (1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by IR, XPS, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The polyoxoanion of 1 is a mono-capped α-Keggin cluster which supports a metal coordination fragment [Ni(2,2′-bpy)₂L]^1.5+, while the structure of 2 exhibits a 1D chain constructed from pseudo-Keggin cluster bi-supported transition metal complexes linked by K⁺ ions. Studies of magnetic properties indicated the presence of paramagnetic behaviours for compounds 1 and 2.     

Photochemical NO release from nitrosyl RuII complexes with C-bound imidazoles

The series of nitrosyl complexes trans-[Ru(NH₃)₄L(NO)]Cl₃, L = caffeine, theophylline, imidazole and benzoimidazole in position trans to NO were prepared and their photochemical properties studied. All complexes showed nitric oxide (NO) release under light irradiation at 330–440 nm. Quantum yields for [Ru(NH₃)₄L(H₂O)]³⁺ formation (?_Ru(III)) were sensitive to the natures of L, λ_irr and pH. The major product of the irradiation of trans-[Ru(NH₃)₄L(NO⁺)]³⁺ is the trans-[Ru^III(NH₃)₄L(Cl)]²⁺ and NO as suggested by UV–Vis, electrochemical, and FTIR techniques.     

Synthesis of water-soluble dinuclear metal complexes [metal = cobalt(II) and nickel(II)] and their behavior in solution

Two dinuclear metal complexes, [Co₂(bhmp)(MeCO₂)₂]ClO₄ · 2H₂O (1) and [Ni₂(bhmp)(MeCO₂)₂]ClO₄ · 2H₂O (2), were synthesized with a dinucleating ligand, 2,6-bis[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol [H(bhmp)]. Both complexes were easily soluble in water as well as in DMF. Electronic spectra for both complexes were measured in both solvents and analyzed using the angular overlap model (AOM). From the electronic spectra and molar conductance, both complexes were determined to exist as [M₂(bhmp)(MeCO₂)₂]⁺ (M = Co^II or Ni^II) in DMF, dissociating perchlorate ions. On the other hand, in water, it was concluded that the acetate ions were partially dissociated and each complex existed as a mixture of some dissociated species, such as [M₂(bhmp)(MeCO₂)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ and [M₂(bhmp)(H₂O)₄]³⁺ (M = Co^II or Ni^II). Such dissociation was also confirmed by precipitation of the dissociated species when NaBPh₄ was added into an aqueous solution of the nickel complex.     

Synthesis,X-ray structures,and magnetic properties of heterometal dinuclear Cr(III)–M(II) complexes

New 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazolato (bpypz) bridged heterometal dinuclear complexes [(nta)Cr(μ-bpypz)M^II(picen)]⁺ (M = Mn(II), Ni(II)) and [(acac)₂Cr(μ-bpypz)Ni^II(picen)]²⁺ (nta = nitrilotriacetate, picen = N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine, acac = acetylacetate) were synthesized and characterized by the X-ray analysis, ESI-MS and the magnetic measurements, and/or ²H NMR spectra. The molecular structures were compared from a viewpoint of the conformation of the picen depending on M^II ionic radii or different modes of hydrogen bonds. The picen in [(nta)Cr(μ-bpypz)Mn^II(picen)]BF₄ takes an abnormal conformation with intramolecular bifurcated three-center hydrogen bonds between two carboxylate oxygens of nta and an amine proton of the picen as found for the previously reported corresponding Fe(II) complex [K. Ni-iya, A. Fuyuhiro, T. Yagi, S. Nasu, K. Kuzushita, S. Morimoto, S. Kaizaki, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 74 (2001) 1891]. On the other hand, for both Ni(II)-nta and Ni(II)-acac complexes, the picen takes a normal conformation with only a two-center hydrogen bond between non-bridging ligands. The magneto-structural relation is discussed for the Cr(III)–Ni(II) complexes in connection with the orthogonality or orbital overlap arising from the difference in distortion around Cr(III) moiety.     

A convenient preparation of pentaaquanitrosylchromium(2+) sulfate: The crystal structure revisited

The complex pentaaquanitrolsylchromium(2+) sulfate, [Cr(OH₂)₅(NO)]SO₄ has been prepared in a high yield by the hydrolysis of [Cr(NCCH₃)₅(NO)](BF₄)₂ in dilute sulfuric acid. Crystals of [Cr(OH₂)₅(NO)]SO₄ · H₂O have been grown and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Continuous photolysis of [Cr(NCCH₃)₅(NO)]²⁺ in acetonitrile solution with 404 nm light results in a release of NO with the quantum yield Φ = 0.55 mol einstein⁻¹ at 298 K with the resulting solvated Cr²⁺ ion being trapped by molecular dioxygen present in the solution.     

Expanding the 4,4′-bipyridine ligand: Structural variation in {M(pytpy)2}2+ complexes (pytpy = 4′-(4-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine,M = Fe,Ni, Ru) and assembly of the hydrogen-bonded,one-dimensional polymer {[Ru(pytpy)(Hpytpy)]}n3n+

The solid state structures of [Ni(1)₂][NO₃]₂ · 2MeOH · 2H₂O, [Fe(1)₂][ClO₄]₂ · 2MeOH · 0.5H₂O, [Ru(1)₂][PF₆]₂ and [Ru(1)₂][PF₆][NO₃] (1 = 4′-(4-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) are presented and the structural variation observed for the {M(1)₂}²⁺ unit is discussed. Protonation of the pendant pyridine group in [Ru(1)₂]²⁺ leads to the formation of a hydrogen-bonded, one-dimensional polymer [{Ru(1)(H1)}_n]³ⁿ⁺ exemplifed by the solid-state structure of [{Ru(1)(H1)}{Fe(NCS)₆} · 1.25H₂O]_n.     

Hydrogen and oxygen trapping at the H-cluster of [FeFe]-hydrogenase revealed by site-selective spectroscopy and QM/MM calculations

[FeFe]-hydrogenases are superior hydrogen conversion catalysts. They bind a cofactor (H-cluster) comprising a four-iron and a diiron unit with three carbon monoxide (CO) and two cyanide (CN^?) ligands. Hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) binding at the H-cluster was studied in the C169A variant of [FeFe]-hydrogenase HYDA1, in comparison to the active oxidized (Hox) and CO-inhibited (Hox-CO) species in wildtype enzyme. ⁵⁷Fe labeling of the diiron site was achieved by in vitro maturation with a synthetic cofactor analogue. Site-selective X-ray absorption, emission, and nuclear inelastic/forward scattering methods and infrared spectroscopy were combined with quantum chemical calculations to determine the molecular and electronic structure and vibrational dynamics of detected cofactor species. Hox reveals an apical vacancy at Fe_d in a [4Fe4S-2Fe]^3 ? complex with the net spin on Fe_d whereas Hox-CO shows an apical CN^? at Fe_d in a [4Fe4S-2Fe(CO)]^3 ? complex with net spin sharing among Fe_p and Fe_d (proximal or distal iron ions in [2Fe]). At ambient O₂ pressure, a novel H-cluster species (Hox-O₂) accumulated in C169A, assigned to a [4Fe4S-2Fe(O₂)]^3 ? complex with an apical superoxide (O₂^?) carrying the net spin bound at Fe_d. H₂ exposure populated the two-electron reduced Hhyd species in C169A, assigned as a [(H)4Fe4S-2Fe(H)]^3 ? complex with the net spin on the reduced cubane, an apical hydride at Fe_d, and a proton at a cysteine ligand. Hox-O₂ and Hhyd are stabilized by impaired O₂^– protonation or proton release after H₂ cleavage due to interruption of the proton path towards and out of the active site.     

Methyl-palladium(II) complexes of pyridine-bridged bis(nucleophilic heterocyclic carbene) ligands: Substituent effects on structure,stability, and catalytic performance

A series of discrete, mononuclear palladium(II)–methyl complexes, together with several palladium(II)–chloro analogues, of pyridine-functionalised bis-NHC ligands have been prepared via ligand transmetallation from the silver(I)-NHC complexes. The reported complexes comprise examples with both the methylene-bridged 2,6-bis[(3-R-imidazolin-2-yliden-1-yl)methyl]pyridine (_RC^∧N^∧C; R = Mes, dipp, ^tBu) and planar 2,6-bis(3-R-imidazolin-2-yliden-1-yl)pyridine (_RCNC; R = Mes, dipp) ligands and, when combined with the previously reported _MeC^∧N^∧C/_MeCNC examples, cover a broad spectrum of ligand substituent steric and electronic properties, including the bulky Mes and dipp groups frequently used in catalytic applications. The palladium(II) complexes have been characterised by a variety of methods, including single crystal X-ray crystallography, with the shielding of the Pd–Me groups in the proton NMR spectra of some of the N-aryl substituted examples correlated with the proximity of the aryl rings to the methyl group in the solid state structures. The [PdMe(_RC^∧N^∧C/_RCNC)]⁺ complexes undergo thermal degradation via reductive methyl-NHC coupling to give 2-methyl-3-R-imidazolium-1-yl species with relative stabilities in the order of [PdMe(_MesC^∧N^∧C)]BF₄ > [PdMe(_MeC^∧N^∧C)]BF₄ ≈ [PdMe(_MesCNC)]BF₄ > [PdMe(_MeCNC)]BF₄ > [PdMe(_tBuC^∧N^∧C)]BF₄ ≫ [PdMe(_tBuCNC)]BF₄ (not isolable). A comparison of the activity of the complexes as precatalysts in a model Heck coupling reaction shows greatest activity in those species bearing bulkier N-substituents, with complexes bearing _RC^∧N^∧C ligands generally more efficient precatalysts than those bearing _RCNC ligands.     

The effect of molecular packing on the occurrence of spin crossover phenomena in one-dimensional Fe(II)-bis-Schiff base complexes

Two new one-dimensional Fe(II)-bis-Schiff base complexes, [Fe(L1)(pyz)] · CH₂Cl₂ (1) and [Fe(L2)(pyz)] · 2CH₂Cl₂ (2) (H₂L1 = bis(O-vanillin)-O-phenylenediimine, H₂L2 = bis(O-vanillin)-2,3-naphthalenediimine, pyz = pyrazine) are reported with their crystal structures and magnetic property. Compound 1 shows a two-step SCO behavior while 2 shows HS at all the temperature range measured. Although the extension of aromatic moiety from benzene (L1) to naphthalene (L2) was introduced for the purpose of strengthening the cooperativity, it leads to the absence of SCO, due to the unanticipated π–π interaction, which leads to the longer Fe–N bond lengths and a weak ligand field around Fe(II) ion.     

Ionic luminescent cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes with polypyridine co-ligands

Two novel ligands containing a functionalized N ∧ N chelating moiety (pbpy-OBut and tpy-COOH, respectively) were treated with [Ir(ppy)₂(μ-Cl)]₂ (ppy = 2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl), leading to the cationic cyclometalated complexes [Ir(ppy)₂(pbpy-OBut)]⁺ (2) (pbpy-OBut = 4-{4′-(4-phenyloxy)-6′-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridyl}butene) and [Ir(ppy)₂(tpy-COOH)]⁺ (3) (tpy-COOH = 4′-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine). Complexes 2 and 3 exhibit intense room temperature luminescence both in solution and as solid films. Assignment of the emissive behavior to a ³LLCT (ppy-to-N ∧ N) excited state is proposed.     

X-ray structures of dinuclear copper(I) and polynuclear copper(II) complexes with the 2,4-bis(cyanamido)cyclobutane-1,3-dione dianion

From the 2,4-bis(cyanamido)cyclobutane-1,3-dione dianion (2,4-NCNsq²⁻), two copper complexes [Cu₂(PPh₃)₄(PhCN)₂(μ-2,4-NCNsq)] · PhCN (1) and [Cu(dien)(μ-2,4-NCNsq) · H₂O]_n (2) have been synthesized and characterized by IR and electronic absorption spectroscopies. Their structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 is a dinuclear copper(I) compound with a 2,4-NCNsq²⁻ ligand bridging two copper atoms through the nitrile nitrogen atoms. Complex 2 appears as a 3D network constituted of copper(II) atoms bridged by 2,4-NCNsq²⁻ dianions. This complex presents an unexpected coordination mode of the bis(cyanamido) ligands which are both coordinated via the nitrile functions and via the amido nitrogen atoms of the NCN groups.     

Hydrolysis of the amide bond in histidine- and methionine-containing dipeptides promoted by pyrazine and pyridazine palladium(II)-aqua dimers: Comparative study with platinum(II) analogues

Two dinuclear palladium(II) complexes, [{Pd(en)Cl}₂(μ-pz)](NO₃)₂ and [{Pd(en)Cl}₂(μ-pydz)](NO₃)₂, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental microanalysis and spectroscopic (¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR and UV–vis) techniques (en is ethylenediamine; pz is pyrazine and pydz is pyridazine). The square planar geometry of palladium(II) metal centers in these complexes has been predicted by DFT calculations. The chlorido complexes were converted into the corresponding aqua complexes, [{Pd(en)(H₂O)}₂(μ-pz)]⁴⁺ and [{Pd(en)(H₂O)}₂(μ-pydz)]⁴⁺, and their reactions with N-acetylated l-histidylglycine (Ac–l–His–Gly) and l-methionylglycine (Ac–l–Met–Gly) were studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The palladium(II)-aqua complexes and dipeptides were reacted in 1:1 M ratio, and all reactions performed in the pH range 2.0 < pH < 2.5 in D₂O solvent and at 37 °C. In the reactions of these complexes with Ac–l–His–Gly and Ac–l–Met–Gly dipeptides, the hydrolysis of the amide bonds involving the carboxylic group of both histidine and methionine amino acids occurs. The catalytic activities of the palladium(II)-aqua complexes were compared with those previously reported in the literature for the analogues platinum(II)-aqua complexes, [{Pt(en)(H₂O)}₂(μ-pz)]⁴⁺ and [{Pt(en)(H₂O)}₂(μ-pydz)]⁴⁺.     

Synthesis,EPR, electrochemistry and EXAFS studies of ruthenium(III) complexes with a symmetrical tetradentate N2O2 Schiff base

A series of new hexa-coordinated ruthenium(III) complexes of the type [RuX(Nap-o-phd)(EPh₃)] (where, H₂-Nap-o-phd = N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde) o-phenylene diamine; X = Cl or Br; E = P or As) have been prepared by reacting [RuX₃(EPh₃)₃] and [RuBr₃(PPh₃)₂(MeOH)] (where X = Cl or Br; E = P or As) with tetradentate Schiff base ligand (H₂-Nap-o-phd) in 1:1 molar ratio. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, infra red, electronic, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The coordination geometry and structure of the complexes have been investigated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and an octahedral structure has been proposed.     

Acetato complexes of molybdenum(V): A novel tetranuclear core based on the metal–metal bonded {Mo2O4}2+ units

A series of acetato complexes of molybdenum(V), based on the singly metal–metal bonded {Mo₂O₄}²⁺ structural fragment, has been prepared. A dinuclear (PyH)₃[Mo₂O₄Cl₄(OOCCH₃)] · CH₃CN (1) (PyH⁺ = pyridinium cation, C₅H₅NH⁺) was obtained upon the reaction of (PyH)₅[MoOCl₄(H₂O)]₃Cl₂ with the equimolar solution of pyridine and acetic acid in acetonitrile at ambient conditions. The acetato ligand in 1 is coordinated to a pair of molybdenum atoms in a syn–syn bidentate bridging manner. (PyH)_n[MoOBr₄]_n afforded in an analogous synthetic procedure a tetranuclear cluster, [Mo₄O₈(OOCCH₃)₃(OH)Py₄] · 1/2CH ₃CN · 1/2H₂O (3), with a novel core which may be envisioned as the acetate- and hydroxide-assisted assembly of {Mo₂O₄}²⁺ building blocks. Its structure is presented in terms of known tetranuclear clusters which are also composed of two {Mo₂O₄}²⁺ units. The acetato ligands in 3 adopted apart from bidentate bridging binding modes also a monodentate one. Partial substitution of chlorido ligands in (PyH)₃[Mo₂O₄Cl₄(OOCCH₃)] · CH₃CN (1) with pyridine resulted in a neutral [Mo₂O₄Cl(OOCCH₃)Py₃] · PrⁱOH · Py (2) which retained the original acetate coordination. The title compounds were fully characterized by X-ray diffraction studies and infrared vibrational spectroscopy.     

[RuIII(medtra)(H2O)] (medtra = N-methylethylenediaminetriacetate) complex – A highly efficient NO inhibitor with low toxicity

Stopped-flow kinetic measurements were used to compare the reactivities of [Ru(medtra)(H₂O)] (medtra³⁻ = N-methylethylenediaminetriacetate) (1) and [Ru(hedtra)(H₂O)] (2) (hedtra³⁻ = N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate) with NO in aqueous solution at 15 °C, pH 7.2 (phosphate buffer). The measured second-order rate constants (3 × 10³ and 6 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for 1 and 2, respectively) are three to four order of magnitudes lower than that for the reaction between [Ru^III(edta)(H₂O)]⁻ (3) with NO. However, NO scavenging studies of complexes 1–3, conducted by measuring the difference in nitrite production between treated and untreated murine macrophage cells, revealed that despite being less kinetically reactive toward NO, the [Ru(medtra)(H₂O)] complex exhibited the highest NO scavenging ability and lowest toxicity of compounds 1–3.     

Synthesis of new palladium(II) complexes containing tetradentate-nitrogen donor ligands: Combined structural studies by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography

Treatment of the tetradentate (NN′N′N) N-alkylaminopyrazole ligands 3,6-dimethyl-1,8-(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)-3,6-diazaoctane (ddad) and 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)ethyl]piperazine (bedp) with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] in a 1:1 M/L ratio in acetonitrile produces [Pd₂Cl₄(L)] and [PdCl₂(L)] (L = ddad and bedp). Treatment of the corresponding complex [PdCl₂(L)] (L = ddad, bedp) in the presence of AgBF₄ in CH₂Cl₂/methanol (2:1) or NaBF₄ in acetonitrile gives [Pd(L)](BF₄)₂. The Pd(II) complexes have been characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, IR and ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectroscopies when possible. The X-ray structure of the complex [Pd(ddad)]Cl₂ · 3H₂O has been determined. The Pd(II) is coordinated to the ddad ligand by two nitrogen atoms of pyrazolyl groups and two nitrogen atoms of the amine groups, in a slightly distorted square-planar geometry.     

The synthesis and structural properties of [M(dippe)(η2-C4H4S)] complexes of Pd and Pt and comparison with their Ni analog

X-ray structural and NMR spectroscopic data for the ring-opened thiophene complexes [Pd(dippe)(T)] (2), and [Pt(dippe)(T)] (3) are now presented. The complex [Ni(dippe)(T)] (1), where T = (η²-C,S-C₄H₄S), was reported by our group, previously.The structural and bonding properties of complexes 2 and 3 were compared with those of complex 1. DFT calculations were carried out to rationalize their relative stabilities and structural properties. Compound 1 loses thiophene at ambient temperature in solution, while compound 2 decomposes rapidly in both acetone-d₆ and THF-d₈ with k_obs = 7.15(9) × 10⁻⁵ and 7.7(3) × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹, respectively, to give products that varied by solvent. Complex 3 does not lose thiophene at temperatures below 100 °C. The ΔG⁰ values determined from DFT calculations are consistent with the observed stabilities of the complexes. The single crystal X-ray structures of all three complexes contain a disordered thienyl fragment in the asymmetric unit due to the interchange of the position of sulfur in the metal-inserted thiophenic ring. The thiophenic moiety is relatively flat in 1, 2 and 3, which is attributed to the open ligand environment at the M(dippe) fragment. All three complexes possess square-planar geometry around the metal center and have bond-length alternation among the thiophenic carbons, which indicates double bond localization. The calculated bond lengths are in good agreement with experimental data. Molecular orbital (MO) and natural bonding orbital (NBO) analyses were carried out to rationalize the results.     

Mononuclear arene ruthenium complexes containing 5,6-diphenyl-3-(pyridine-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazine as chelating ligand: Synthesis and molecular structure

The mononuclear cations of the general formula [(η⁶-arene)RuCl(pdpt)]⁺ (pdpt = 5,6-diphenyl-3-(pyridine-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazine; arene = C₆H₆ (1); C₆H₅Me (2); p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me (3); C₆Me₆ (4)) have been synthesised from 5,6-diphenyl-3-(pyridine-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazine (pdpt) and the corresponding chloro complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, [(η⁶-C₆H₅Me)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, [(η⁶p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, respectively. The X-ray crystal structure analyses of [1][PF₆] · (C₆H₆)_2.5 and [2][PF₆] · (CH₃CN)₂ reveal a typical piano-stool geometry around the metal centre and in the crystal packing a complexed networks of intermolecular interactions.