Dalton perspectives. The generation and reactivity of versatile ruthenium carbonyl organometallic intermediates by cluster photochemistry

Abstract

The use of inorganic cluster photochemistry in the synthesis of both monuclear and higher-nuclearity compounds is discussed. Owing to its selectivity, cluster photochemistry offers a high-yield route to both known and novel target compounds by the selective labilisation of ligands and cleavage of metal–metal bonds. Attention is focused on the trinuclear cluster [Ru₃(CO)₁₂], looking mechanistically at both photofragmentation and photosubstitution processes and at the synthetic potential of the reactive intermediates formed. The role of cluster photochemistry in catalysis and in the elucidation of the mechanism for a number of catalytic processes is also discussed.