Iminium salts with a barralene ring, corresponding ruthenium complexes, and uses thereof

An iminium salt having the following formula (I):

• wherein:
• n=0 or 1;
• R1 is a (C6-C14) aryl group, a (C1-C6)alkyl group or a (C8-C20) cycloalkyl group, said aryl group being optionally substituted with at least one substituent chosen from the group consisting of:
• halogen, (C1-C6)alkoxy group, (C6-C10) aryl group, and (C1-C6)alkyl group, said alkyl group being optionally substituted with one or several phenyl group(s) or optionally interrupted by at least one oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, or said alkyl group being optionally substituted with at least one substituent chosen from the group consisting of:
• (C6-C16) aryl group, (C2-C6)alkenyl group, (C2-C6)alkynyl group, hydroxyl, (C6-C10) arylcarbonyl, (C1-C6)alkoxycarbonyl, —C═C—Si((C1-C6)alkyl)3, and —O—Si((C1-C6)alkyl)3;
• or R1 is a —NR′aR′b group, R′a and R′b being independently from each other selected from the group consisting of:
• H, (C1-C6)alkyl, and (C6-C10) aryl, or R′a and R′b form together with the nitrogen atom carrying them a N(CH2)2+m heterocyclyl ring, m being 0 or an integer comprised from 1 to 6;
• R2 is H, a (C6-C10) aryl group or a (C1-C6)alkyl group;
• R3 is a (C1-C6)alkyl group;
• or R2 and R3 may together form, with the carbon atom carrying them, a (C3-C6) cycloalkyl;
• R4 is selected from the following groups:
• H, (C6-C10) aryl, and (C1-C6)alkyl,
• R5 is selected from the following groups:
• H, (C6-C10) aryl, and (C1-C5)alkyl,
• j is 0 or an integer comprised from 1 to 4;
• i is an integer varying from 1 to j, and each Ri, identical or different, is selected from the following groups:
• H, (C6-C10) aryl, and (C1-C6)alkyl,
• 1 is 0 or an integer comprised from 1 to 4;
• k is an integer varying from 1 to l, and each Rk, identical or different, is selected from the following groups:
• H, (C6-C10) aryl, and (C1-C6)alkyl;
• and
• X is a counteranion.