Coupling and disproportionation reactions of ethyne on ruthenium carbonyl clusters: molecular structures of Ru5(µ4-CHCHCCH2)(CO)15 and Ru6(µ-H)(µ4-C)(µ4-CCMe)(µ-CO)(CO)16†

Abstract

Thermolysis of Ru₃(µ₃-C₂H₂)(µ-CO)(CO)₉ 1 (50 °C, 6 h) has given Ru₅(µ₄-CHCHCCH₂)(CO)₁₅ 3 and Ru₆(µ-H)(µ₄-C)(µ₄-CCMe)(µ-CO)(CO)₁₆ 4, both characterised by X-ray crystallography; in 3, coupling of two ethyne molecules occurred, likely with prior isomerisation of one to vinylidene, whereas in 4, two molecules of ethyne disproportionate to carbide and methylethynyl.