trans-Heteroleptic carboxylate-bridged paddlewheel diruthenium(ii, ii) complexes with 2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoate ligands†
Abstract
Carboxylate-ligand substitution reactions of paddlewheel-type diruthenium(II, III) complexes ([RuII,III2(RCO2)4]+) with 2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (2,6-(CF3)2PhCO2−) involving a selective reduction to [RuII,II2] provide a series of trans-substituted paddlewheel-type diruthenium(II, II) complexes, [RuII,II2(2,6-(CF3)2PhCO2)2(RCO2)2(THF)2] (R = CH3, 1; C2H5, 2; C3H7, 3; C4H9, 4; C(CH3)3, 5; 2,3,5,6-F4Ph, 6). Crystal structures of 1–6 were determined, and their electronic states were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, density functional theory (DFT) and magnetic measurements. This is the first example of trans-heteroleptic carboxylate-bridged [RuII,II2] complexes.