Synthesis and characterisation of guaiazulene derivatives of two ruthenium carbonyl clusters

Abstract

Thermolysis of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂]1 in octane with guaiazulene (7-isopropyl-1,4-dimethylazulene) gave [Ru₃(CO)₇(µ₃-η⁵:η³:η³-C₁₅H₁₈)]2 and [Ru₄(CO)₉(µ₃-η⁵:η³:η³-C₁₅H₁₈)]3. The products 2 and 3 have been characterised by spectroscopic techniques and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Comparison is made between the two structures of the cluster compounds. Proton NMR and crystal structural data indicate an increased degree of metal–hydrocarbon interaction in 3.