Synthesis and reactions of octakis(t-butyl isocyanide)dicobalt and pentakis(t-butyl isocyanide)ruthenium; X-ray crystal and molecular structures of [Co2(ButNC)8] and [Ru(Ph3P)(ButNC)4]

Abstract

Reduction of [Co(Bu^tNC)₅PF₆ with K–Hg in tetrahydrofuran affords the complex Co₂(Bu^tNC)₈], and similarly trans-[RuCl₂(Bu^tNC)₄] with Bu^tNC, trans-[RuCl₂(Bu^tNC)₄] with Ph₃P and Bu^tNC, and trans-[RuCl₂-(PrⁱNC)₄] with PrⁱNC give [Ru(Bu^tNC)₅], [Ru(Bu^tNC)₄(Ph₃P)], and [Ru₂(PrⁱNC)₉], respectively; the structures of [Co₂(Bu^tNC)₈] and [Ru(Bu^tNC)₄(Ph₃P)] are established by single crystal X-ray diffraction.