Reactions of metal carbonyl cluster complexes with multidentate phosphine ligands; the preparation and thermolysis of bis(dimethylphosphino)methane derivatives of [Ru3(CO)12], and the X-ray crystal structure of [Ru3(CO)9(H)(Me2PCHPMe2)]

Abstract

The complexes [Ru₃(CO)₁₀(dmpm)] and [Ru₃(CO)₈(dmpm)₂][dmpm = bis(dimethylphosphino)methane] have been prepared by the direct reaction between [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] and dmpm. Both derivatives undergo thermolysis reactions in refluxing benzene in which the methylene group of a dmpm ligand is metallated to yield [R[graphic omitted]HPMe₂)] and [R[graphic omitted]HPMe₂)(dmpm)] respectively. The crystal structure of the former derivative has been determined.