Reactions of Ru3(CO)10(NCMe)2 with ethyne: molecular structures of some prototypical cluster complexes

Abstract

Formation of Ru4, Ru5 and Ru6 complexes accompanies the synthesis of the previously described of Ru3(µ3-C2H2)(µ-CO)(CO)9 1 [from Ru3(CO)10(NCMe)2 and C2H2] and its conversion to Ru3(µ-H)(µ3-C2H)(CO)9 2. In Ru4(µ4-C2H2)(CO)12 4, the ethyne forms part of the pseudo-octahedral C2Ru4. In contrast, µ4-2-CCH2 ligands are found in Ru5(µ4-CCH2)(CO)15 5 and Ru6(µ4-CCH2)2(CO)16 7; in the former, the Ru5 core is an edge-bridged tetrahedron, while in 7, two butterflies share an RuRu double bond [2.686(1) ]. Other minor products are Ru5(µ-CHCHCCH2)(CO)15 6 and Ru6(µ-H)(µ4-C)(µ-CCMe)(µ-CO)(CO)16 8. Crystal structures of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7·CH2Cl2 are reported.