The first non-carbido decaruthenium cluster; synthesis and X-ray structure analysis of [H2Ru10(CO)25]2–

Abstract

The cluster dianion [H₂Ru₁₀(CO)₂₅]^2–1 may be synthesised by redox condensation of the anion [HRu₆(CO)₁₈]^–2 with [Ru₃(CO)₁₂]3 or by thermolysis of 3 in ethanol; it is the first high nuclearity ruthenium cluster not to contain an interstitial carbido-atom, and X-ray structure analysis shows that the cluster exhibits a unique metal core geometry which is clearly a fragment of the hexagonal close pack (hcp) system of metal atom packing.