Chemistry of the metal carbonyls. Part LVII. Organosilicon(carbonyl)ruthenium complexes

Abstract

Triorganosilanes react with dodecacarbonyltriruthenium to give complexes [R₃SiRu(CO)₄]₂(I). When R = Me the compound (Me₃Si)₂Ru(CO)₄(II) is also obtained. Complexes (I) are air-stable crystalline compounds which probably contain the linear sequence Si·Ru·Ru·Si. Treatment of (I; R = Me) with sodium amalgam affords the anion [Me₃SiRu(CO)₄]^– which has been used to prepare Me₃SiRu(CO)₄X (X = Me₃Sn, Ph₃Sn, Ph₃PAu, Mn(CO)₅, or Bu₃Ge). With Me₂SnCl₂ the anion yields [Me₂SnRu(CO)₄]₂(III). The ruthenium–ruthenium bond in (I; R = Me) is cleaved in reactions with Ph₃P and Me₃SnH. The former affords (Ph₃P)₂Ru(CO)₃ and (Me₃Si)₂Ru(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂, and the latter (Me₃Sn)₂Ru(CO)₄.