Application
Ruthenium trichloride is primarily used as a versatile starting material for synthesizing a wide range of ruthenium complexes, essential in various chemical and technical applications. In its commonly available form as a trihydrate, RuCl3·3H2O, it is soluble in water, forming solutions that are straw-colored when diluted and red-brown when concentrated. This compound is particularly renowned for its catalytic abilities, facilitating processes such as the oxidative cyclization of 1,7-dienes to produce oxepane diols, and the hydroxylation of tertiary hydrocarbons, especially when combined with periodate or bromate. Its catalytic properties also extend to specialized syntheses, including the production of isotopically labeled compounds. Ruthenium trichloride can interact with various agents to form distinct complexes and precipitates, such as the formation of iodide, trisulphide, and other ammonium, cyanide, and nitrite complexes. Moreover, it can be reduced to form blue divalent ruthenium ions. Due to its reactivity and stability, RuCl3 serves as an excellent starting point for accessing the broad range of oxidation states characteristic of ruthenium, from VIII to -II, making it invaluable in the synthesis of diverse metal compounds in both hydrated and anhydrous forms. Its applications include use in technical analysis within chemistry labs, prominently in the detection of sulfur trioxide, despite its high toxicity.
