Crystal and molecular structure of tri-µ-chloro-dichlorotetrakis(tri-n-butylphosphine)diruthenium, a ruthenium(II)–ruthenium(III) complex

Abstract

The structure of Ru₂Cl₅(PBuⁿ₃)₄ has been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction methods. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c with a= 13·866, b= 16·003, c= 30·545 Å, and β= 111·0°. The molecule has the configuration shown in (I). The two ruthenium co-ordination octahedra are very similar so that Ru^II and Ru^III states cannot be distinguished. The Ru–P lengths have an average value of 2·329 Å. The Ru⋯Ru distance is 3·115 Å. The final R factor for 3776 planes measured on a linear diffractometer is 0·083.