Site selectivity in the reactions of nucleophiles with [Ru5C(CO)15]: X-ray analysis of [Ru5C(CO)14(µ-η2-MeCO)(AuPPh3)] and [Ru5C(CO)13(η5-C5H5)(AuPPh3)], the first high nuclearity cyclopentadienylruthenium cluster

Abstract

The cluster [Ru₅C(CO)₁₅]reacts with LiMe, followed by [Ph₃PAu][Cl], to give [Ru₅C(CO)₁₄(µ-η²-MeCO)(AuPPh₃)] while reaction with NaC₅H₅ followed by [Ph₃PAu][ClO₄], gives [Ru₅C(CO)₁₃(η⁵-C₅H₅)(AuPPh₃)]; X-ray analysis has confirmed that the nucleophile has attacked a carbonyl ligand in the former case but a metal centre in the latter.