Structures of binuclear ruthenium complexes. Part I. The crystal and molecular structure of tri-µ-chloro-chloropentakis(diethylphenylphosphine)diruthenium(II)

Abstract

The crystal and molecular structure of Ru₂Cl₄(Et₂PhP)₅ has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystals are monoclinic, with a= 15·882, b= 19·078, c= 10·418 Å, β= 104°, Z= 2, space group P2₁. Each molecule contains two approximately octahedrally co-ordinated ruthenium atoms joined by three bridging chlorine atoms. One ruthenium atom, Ru(1), is also bonded to three phosphorus atoms, and the other, Ru(2), to two phosphorus atoms and to a non-bridging chlorine atom, Cl(4). This unique chlorine atom causes marked asymmetry in the disposition of the trans-bridging chlorine atom Cl(2) between the two ruthenium atoms. The Ru(1)⋯Ru(2) separation is 3·367 Å, the Ru(1)–P bonds lengths are 2·328, 2·344, and 2·300 Å, the Ru(2)–P bond lengths have the smaller values 2·259 and 2·257 Å. The ruthenium–chlorine distances are: Ru(1)–Cl(1) 2·472, Ru(1)–Cl(2) 2·522, Ru(1)–Cl(3) 2·475, Ru(2)–Cl(1) 2·499, Ru(2)–Cl(2) 2·426, Ru(2)–Cl(3) 2·535 Å, and Ru(2)–Cl(4) 2·395 Å.