New insight into a convenient base-promoted synthesis of Ru3(CO)12†
Abstract
The addition of two equivalents of KOH per Ru under 1 atm CO at 75 °C to a mixture of [Ru(CO)2Cl2]n and [Ru(CO)3Cl2]2 generated in situ by carbonylation of 5 grams of RuCl3·3H2O in 2-ethoxyethanol, triggers a reaction cascade producing Ru3(CO)12 in yields exceeding 90% within 45 minutes.