Heterolytic H2 splitting across a Ru–S bond leading to the replacement of S by O in the carborane-dithiolato ligand of a 15-electron Ru(iii) complex

Abstract

A 15-electron Ru(III) complex containing carborane-thiolato ligands heterolytically cleaves dihydrogen at ambient pressure and temperature to give Ru(IV)/Ru(II) species containing a hydrido ligand at Ru(IV) and SH ligand at Ru(II). In the presence of HBF₄·H₂O the reaction further leads to an unprecedented replacement of an S atom by an O atom in the carborane-dithiolato ligand.