Synthesis and structure of [Ru3(CO)9(µ-H)(µ3-η2-PhCH2CH2CNPh)], a product of an ‘intramolecular’ hydrogen-transfer reaction

Abstract

The reaction of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with 3,N-diphenylprop-2-enimine yielded the ruthenium cluster compounds [Ru₂(CO)₆(PhCCHCH₂NPh)]1, [Ru₃(CO)₉(µ-H)(µ₃-η²-PhCH₂CH₂CNPh)]2, [Ru₃(CO)₆(PhCCHCHNPh)₂]3 and [Ru₄(CO)₁₀(PhCCHCHNPh)₂]4. A compound of formula [M₃(CO)₉(µ-H)(µ₃-η²-imine)] like 2 has never been isolated from a reaction of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with an azadiene; 2 is the main product of the reaction. X-Ray diffraction analysis showed an imine ligand µ₃-η²-co-ordinated to a ruthenium triangle, giving a distorted-square-pyramidal Ru₃CN cluster core. The former CC double bond of the azadiene ligand has been hydrogenated. This result is confirmed by the IR and NMR spectroscopic properties of 2.