CATALYTIC ACTIVATION OF MOLECULAR HYDROGEN BY RUTHENIUM (III) CHLORIDE COMPLEXES

Abstract

Ruthenium(III) chloride, in aqueous HCl solution, was found to activate H₂ homogeneously and to catalyze the reduction by H₂ of Ru(IV)and Fe(III). The kinetics of these reactions were examined and, in each case, the rate law was found to be −d[H₂]/dt = k₁[H₂][Ru^III] where k₁ = 4.0 × 10¹⁴ exp [−23,800/RT] M⁻¹ sec⁻¹. The mechanisms of these reactions are discussed and compared to those of other homogeneously catalyzed reactions of hydrogen. A special feature of the present system is the resistance of the catalytic species itself (i.e. Ru^III) to reduction by H₂.