Transformation of vinylidene to ketene at a diruthenium centre: crystal structure of [Ru2(CO)2(µ-CO){µ-C(O)CH2}(η-C5Me5)2]

Abstract

Oxidation of the µ-vinylidene complex [Ru₂(CO)₂(µ-CO)(µ-CCH₂)(η-C₅Me₅)₂](1) yields the µ-ketene complex [Ru₂(CO)₂(µ-CO){µ-C(O)CH₂}(η-C₅Me₅)₂](4), structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction, which decarbonylates readily to the µ-methylene complex [Ru₂(CO)₂(µ-CO)(µ-CH₂)(η-C₅Me₅)₂](6), and is carbonylated to yield [(η-C₅Me₅)(CO)₂RuC(O)CH₂Ru(CO)₂(η-C₅Me₅)](8); upon reduction with BH₃·tetrahydrofuran (4) affords the µ-ethylidene complex [Ru₂(CO)₂(µ-CO)(µ-CHMe)(η-C₅Me₅)₂](9) and the ethylene complex [Ru₂(CO)(C₂H₄)(µ-CO)₂(η-C₅Me₅)₂](10).