Synthesis, molecular and crystal structure of tetraruthenium butterfly arene clusters
Abstract
A series of Ru4 butterfly cluster complexes have been synthesized and investigated by spectroscopic and diffraction methods. The solid-state structure of [Ru4(CO)12(µ4-η2 : η2-C6H8)]1 and of the two isomers of [Ru4(CO)9(µ4-η2 : η2-C6H8)(η6-C6H6)] with the benzene ring located on the butterfly hinge (2) or on the wingtip (3), have been characterized. The three complexes are monoclinic, 1: space group P21/c, a= 9.779(8), b= 22.163(14), c= 10.069(6)Å, β= 90.23(9)°, Z= 4; 2: space group Cc, a= 10.010(3), b= 15.532(4), c= 15.384(4)Å, β= 93.50(2)°, Z= 4; 3: space group P21/c, a= 16.655(3), b= 15.709(3), c= 17.831(4)Å, β= 91.44(3)°, Z= 8. The molecular structures of the complexes have been investigated in relation with the respective crystal structure and, in the case of 2, compared with the polymorphic modification described previously.