Ruthenium compounds, their production and use

A compound of the formula Ia or Ib:

• wherein:
• M is selected from the group consisting of Ru and Os;
• R and R1 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C2–C20 alkenyl, C2–C20 alkynyl, C1–C20 alkyl, aryl, C1–C20 carboxylate, C1–C20 alkoxy, C2–20 alkenyloxy, aryloxy, C2–C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1–C20 alkylthio, C1–C20 alkylsulfonyl, or C1–C20 alkylsulfinyl;
• each optionally substituted with one or more C1–C5 alkyl, halogen, C1–C5 alkoxy, phenyl optionally substituted with halogen, C1–C5 alkyl, or C1–C5 alkoxy;
• X and X1 are anionic ligands, wherein X and X1 are each independently selected from -Z-Q, or wherein one of X and X1 is halide and the other of X and X1 is -Z-Q, each Z comprising O, S, N, or C, and each Q comprising a planar electron withdrawing group;
• and
• L and L1 are independently selected from any neutral electron donor;
• wherein any 2–3 of X, X1, L, or L1 are optionally covalently linked to form a chelating multidentate ligand.