Potassium Ruthenate

Basic Information of Potassium Ruthenate

CAS No.	31111-21-4
EC No.	250-476-9
Chemical Formula	K₂RuO₄
Molecular Weight	243.18 g/mol
Appearance	Green to dark green crystalline solid or green alkaline solution
Odor	Odorless
Melting point	Decomposes before melting (>300 °C)
Boiling point	Not applicable (decomposes)
Density	approx. 3.0–3.2 g/cm³ (solid); solution density varies
Solubility	Soluble in water (forms alkaline solutions); insoluble in most organic solvents
Nature (hazards)	Strong oxidizer, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, harmful if swallowed or inhaled, toxic to aquatic life, may cause fire or explosion
RIDADR	UN 3139, Oxidizing solid, n.o.s. (Potassium ruthenate), Class 5.1, Packing Group I (solid); UN 3085 for solutions
Chemical Structure

Primary Applications of Potassium Ruthenate

Potassium Ruthenate is a powerful Ru(VI) oxidant, delivering high selectivity and functional group compatibility in key oxidative transformations.

1. Syn-Dihydroxylation of Alkenes
    Catalyzes stereospecific cis-dihydroxylation of olefins under mild conditions, providing efficient access to 1,2-diols in carbohydrate, steroid, and natural product synthesis.

2. Oxidative Cleavage of 1,2-Diols
    Selectively cleaves vicinal diols to carbonyl compounds (aldehydes or ketones), offering a mild alternative to periodate oxidation in complex molecule degradation and synthesis.

3. Alcohol Oxidation to Carbonyls
    Enables selective oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones, often catalytically with co-oxidants, in fine chemical and pharmaceutical intermediate preparation.

4. Precursor for Ruthenium Catalysts
    Serves as a stable Ru(VI) source for preparing ruthenium metathesis, hydrogenation, or oxidation catalysts through reduction or ligand exchange in advanced synthetic applications.

5. Natural Product & Pharmaceutical Synthesis
    Applied in selective oxidation steps and structural modifications of complex molecules, offering excellent chemoselectivity and mild reaction conditions.

6. Analytical & Structural Chemistry
    Used as a selective oxidant in analytical procedures and as a staining agent in electron microscopy for biological samples requiring high-resolution contrast.

• Stabilized & High-Quality Formulations
   Carefully prepared solid or stabilized alkaline solutions minimize decomposition and hazards while maintaining full oxidative potency and consistency.

• Precise Ruthenium Content Control
   Accurate assay and low impurity profiles guarantee consistent Ru concentration and reproducible performance across batches.

• Secure Precious Metal Sourcing
   Transparent, responsible ruthenium procurement with inventory buffering to provide supply stability and competitive pricing.

• Technical Application Support
   Dedicated specialists offer guidance on safe handling, co-oxidant selection, reaction optimization, and scale-up for maximum selectivity and yield.

• Regulatory & Sustainability Compliance
   Full COA, REACH, RoHS, SDS documentation and ruthenium recycling programs aligned with global standards and ESG commitments.

Hazards Classification

• GHS Classification: Oxidizing Solids (Category 1); Skin Corrosion (Category 1A); Serious Eye Damage (Category 1); Acute Toxicity, Oral (Category 3); Acute Toxicity, Inhalation (Category 3); Aquatic Acute (Category 1); Aquatic Chronic (Category 1)

• Hazard Statements: H271: May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizer; H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage; H301 + H331: Toxic if swallowed or if inhaled; H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

• UN Number: UN 3139

• Hazard Class: 5.1 (Oxidizing substances)

• Packing Group: I