Photochemical C–H bond activation of the diruthenium bridging methylene complex, Cp2Ru2(µ-CH2)2(CO)2: insertion of norbornadienes into the methylene C–H bond and unprecedented intramolecular H–D exchange between the two methylene units

Abstract

Two photochemical reactions of the diruthenium bis-µ-methylene complex (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ru₂(µ-CH₂)₂(CO)₂ are described: (i) insertion reaction of norbornadiene into the methylene C–H bonds leading to (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ru₂(µ-CHR′)₂(CO)₂ (R′ = 5-exo-norbornenyl) and (ii) H exchange between the two methylene units, involve µ-methylidyne intermediates generated via C–H bond activation of the µ-methylene ligand.