Redox activation of the hexanuclear ruthenium cluster [Ru6C(CO)16]2– using oxidative addition

Abstract

The dianion [Ru₆C(CO)₁₆]^2–(1) reacts with ligands L[= CO, P(OMe)₃, PPh₃, or PPh₂Me] in the presence of [Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂]BF₄, FeCl₃ or electrochemically to yield the corresponding [Ru₆C(CO)₁₆L] derivatives; with the disubstituted alkynes PhCCEt or EtCCMe, the dianion (1) gives the alkyne substituted clusters [Ru₆C(CO)₁₅(PhCCEt)] and [Ru₆C(CO)₁₅(EtCCMe)] as the respective products at room temperature; and with C₅Me₅H or C₆H₅(CH₃) the compounds [Ru₆C(CO)₁₄-(µ-H)(η⁵-C₅Me₅)] and [Ru₆C(CO)₁₄{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₃)}] are obtained.