Photocatalyzed isomerization of 1-pentene by Ru3(CO)12 adsorbed onto porous Vycor glass

UV photolysis of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ physisorbed onto porous Vycor glass leads to the oxidative addition product (μ-H)Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ-OSi). The latter reacts thermally with 1-pentene to form a stable adduct, HRu₃(CO)₁₀(OSi)(1-C₅H₁₀), and photolysis of the adduct results in isomerization of the alkene. HRu₃(CO)₁₀(OSi)(1-C₅H₁₀) + hv → (μ-H)Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ-OSi) + 2-pentene As with other photoactivated hybrid systems, the cis-/trans-2-pentene product ratio changes during photolysis. Unlike the other systems, where light generates a thermal catalyst, the data gathered here indicate a photoassisted catalytic process in which photoactivation of HRu₃(CO)₁₀(OSi)(1-C₅H₁₀) leads to an excited state similar to a π-allyl complex.