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.