X-Ray crystal structure and molecular dynamics of the µ-dimethylcarbene complex [Ru2(CO)2(µ-CO)(µ-CMe2)(η-C5H5)2]

Abstract

X-Ray diffraction has established that [Ru₂-(CO)₂(µ-CO)(µ-CMe₂)(η-C₅H₅)₂] exists in the solid state as the cis-isomer, but in solution both the cis- and trans-isomers are present and interconvert rapidly on the n.m.r. time scale above room temperature; the isomerisation is concluded to involve bridge-terminal carbene exchange.