Novel half‐sandwich η 5 ‐Cp *–rhodium(III) and η 5 ‐Cp *–ruthenium(II) complexes bearing bis(phosphino)amine ligands and their use in the transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones

Two new half‐sandwich η 5 ‐Cp*–rhodium(III) and η 5 ‐Cp*–ruthenium(II) complexes have been prepared from corresponding bis(phosphino)amine ligands, thiophene‐2‐( N , N ‐bis(diphenylphosphino)methylamine) or furfuryl‐2‐( N , N ‐bis(diphenylphosphino)amine). Structures of the new complexes have been elucidated by multinuclear one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. These Cp*–rhodium(III) and Cp*‐ruthenium(II) complexes bearing bis(phosphino)amine ligands were successfully applied to transfer hydrogenation of various ketones by 2‐propanol. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.