Synthesis of trimethylenemethane by combination of methylene with allene at a diruthenium centre: X-ray structure of [Ru2(CO)(µ-CO){µ-η1,η3-CH2C(CH2)2}(η-C5H5)2]

Abstract

Carbon–carbon bond formation is rapid when the µ-methylene complex [Ru₂(CO)(MeCN)(µ-CH₂)(µ-CO)(η-C₅H₅)₂] is treated with allene at room temperature, affording the µ-trimethylenemethane complex [Ru₂(CO)(µ-CO){µ-η¹,η³-CH₂C(CH₂)₂}(η-C₅H₅)₂], structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction; the fluxionality and isomerisation of the complex, and its reactivity towards H⁺ and CO, are described.