Cluster-mediated ring contraction: synthesis and characterisation of [Ru6(µ3-H)(µ4- η2-CO)2(CO)13(η 5-C5H4Me)] and [Ru6(µ3-H)(µ4- η2-CO)2(CO)13(η 5-C5H3C3H6)]

Abstract

The thermolysis of [Ru ₃ (CO) ₁₂ ] with either cyclohexene or cycloocta-1,3-diene resulted in a number of cluster derivatives, including one from each reaction in which the ligand has undergone a ring contraction. Reaction with cyclohexene afforded the methylcyclopentadienyl cluster [Ru ₆ (µ ₃ -H)(µ ₄ -η ² - CO) ₂ (CO) ₁₃ (η ⁵ -C ₅ H ₄ Me)] 1, whilst cycloocta-1,3-diene yielded the trihydropentalenyl cluster [Ru ₆ (µ ₃ -H)(µ ₄ -η ² - CO) ₂ (CO) ₁₃ (η ⁵ -C ₈ H ₉ )] 2. The molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been established in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.