Stepwise reduction of MeNC to Me2NH on a metallaborane substrate: an interesting reaction sequence and the molecular structure of [µ-6,9-(NMe2)-10-(PMe2Ph)-5-(η6-C6Me6)-arachno-5-RuB9H10]

Abstract

Reaction of MeNC with [6-(η⁶-C₆Me₆)-nido-5-RuB ₉H₁₃](1) yields an unstable –NMeCh₂-bridged intermediate of empirical formula [(C₆Me₆)Ru(NMe₂Ch₂)B₉H ₁₁](2); this reacts with PMe₂Ph to give the –NMe₂-bridged species [µ-6,9-(NMe₂)-10-(PMe₂Ph)-5-(η⁶-C₆ Me₆)-arachno-5-RuB₉H₁₀](4), but in the absence of PMe₂Ph it decomposes to give Me₂NH and [1-(η⁶-C₆Me₆)-isocloso-1-RuB₉ H₉](3).