Bis(cyclopentadienyl) clusters of ruthenium: the synthesis, characterisation and molecular structures of [Ru5C(CO)10(η5-C5H5)2] and [Ru6C(CO)12(η5-C5H5)2]

Abstract

Reaction of the hexanuclear cluster [Ru₆C(CO)₁₇] with trimethylamine N-oxide in CH₂Cl₂ containing cyclopentadiene yielded a variety of products including [Ru₆C(CO)₁₂(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂]1and [Ru₅C(CO)₁₀(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂]2in moderate and modest yields, respectively. Compound 2has also been isolated as a major product from a similar reaction of cyclopentadiene with [Ru₅C(CO)₁₅] and as a minor product from the reaction of cyclopentadiene with [Ru₅RhC(CO)₁₄(η⁵-C₅Me₅)]. The molecular structures of compounds 1 and 2 have been determined by X-ray diffraction, at 1 50 and 295 K, respectively.