The synthesis and characterisation of Ru3, Ru4 and Ru6 clusters with styrene, 4-methylstyrene and 4-trifluoromethylstyrene

Abstract

The products of the thermolytic reaction of [Ru ₃ (CO) ₁₂ ] with styrene, 4-methylstyrene and 4-trifluoromethylstyrene respectively have been determined. In each case, compounds of the type [Ru ₄ (CO) ₁₂ (µ ₄ -η ¹ ∶η ¹ ∶η ² ∶η ² -HCCC ₆ H ₄ R)] 1, [Ru ₃ (CO) ₈ {µ ₃ -η ⁶ ∶η ² ∶η ¹ ∶ η ¹ -HCC(H)C ₆ H ₃ R}] 2 and [Ru ₆ C(CO) ₁₄ (η ⁶ -MeC ₆ H ₄ R)] 3 are observed (where R = H, Me or CF ₃ ). The single-crystal structures of [Ru ₄ (CO) ₁₂ (µ ₄ -η ¹ ∶η ¹ ∶η ² ∶η ² -HCCC ₆ H ₅ )] 1a, [Ru ₃ (CO) ₈ {HCC(H)C ₆ H ₃ Me}] 2b and [Ru ₆ C(CO) ₁₄ (η ⁶ -1,4-Me ₂ C ₆ H ₄ )] 3b have been determined. A fourth species [Ru ₆ (CO) ₁₅ (µ ₄ -η ¹ ∶η ¹ ∶η ² ∶η ² -HCCC ₆ H ₄ R)(η ⁶ -C ₆ H ₄ REt)] 4 is also reported, and a possible structure suggested.