Complexes of Pd(II), η⁶-C₆H₆Ru(II), and η⁵-Cp*Rh(III) with Chalcogenated Schiff Bases of Anthracene-9-carbaldehyde and Base-Free Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Aldehydes/Ketones and N-Alkylation of Amines

The condensation of 2-(phenylsulfanyl)ethylamine and 2-(phenylselenyl)ethylamine with anthracene-9-carbaldehyde resulted in Schiff bases [PhS(CH2)2C═N-9-C14H9](L1) and [PhSe(CH2)2C═N-9-C14H9] (L2), respectively. Na2[PdCl4] treatment of L1/L2 in acetone–water mixture for 3 h at room temperature gave palladacycle [PdCl(C–, N, S/Se)] (1/2; L1/L2–H = (C–, N, S)/(C–, N, Se)). The reaction of [(η6-C6H6)RuCl(μ-Cl)]2 with L1/L2 in methanol for 8 h at room temperature (followed by addition of NH4PF6) afforded half-sandwich complex [(η6-C6H6)Ru(L)Cl][PF6], 3/4: (L = L1/L2 ≡ (N, E) ligand). The reaction of [(η5-Cp*)RhCl(μ-Cl)]2 with L1 /L2 in the presence of CH3COONa at 50 °C (followed by treatment with NH4PF6) resulted in [(η5-Cp*)Rh(L-H)][PF6], 5/6: (L = L1/L2). On carrying out the reaction of [(η5-Cp*)RhCl(μ-Cl)]2 with these ligands at room temperature and in the absence of CH3COONa, complex [(η5-Cp*)Rh(L)Cl][PF6], 7/8 (L = L1/L2 ≡ (N, E) ligand), was formed. Complexes 1–8 were authenticated with 1H, 13C{1H}, and...