Homogeneous dehydrosulfurisation under ambient conditions . Harnessing the facile polyhedral rearrangement in the ruthenium carbonyl cluster Ru5C(CO)15

Abstract

Reaction of the square pyramidal cluster Ru₅C(CO)₁₅ with H₂S affords the bridged butterfly species (µ-H)Ru₅C(CO)₁₄(µ-SH) in which H and SH coordinate with simultaneous cleavage of one Ru–Ru bond and displacement of one CO. Subsequent reaction with CO regenerates the starting cluster and eliminates elemental sulfur (S₈) and dihydrogen. These reactions take place at ambient temperatures and pressures.