Reaction chemistry of alkynes with the tris(acetonitrile)-ruthenium cluster [Ru3(CO)9(MeCN)3]
Abstract
The reaction of acetylene, monosubstituted alkynes HC2R (R = Ph and SiMe3) and disubstituted alkynes C2RR′(R = R′= Me or Ph, R = Me, R′= Et) with the tris(acetonitrile)-substituted cluster [Ru3(CO)9(MeCN)3] have been studied. Monosubstituted alkynes form acetylide complexes [Ru3H(CO)9(C2R)] in high yield. Disubstituted alkynes undergo [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerisation reaction to yield [Ru3(CO)9(µ3-η2:η2:η2-C6R3R′3)] complexes in good yield. These complexes contain an aromatic, face-capping, group co-ordinated to the triruthenium cluster.