Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and reactivity of the di-µ-carbene complex [Ru2(CO)2(µ-CHMe)(µ-CMe2)(η-C5H5)2]

Abstract

Treatment of [Ru₂(CO)₂(µ-CO)(µ-CMe₂)(η-C₅H₅)₂] with methyl-lithium and HBF₄ in succession provides the carbyne–carbene-bridged cation [Ru₂(CO)₂(µ-CMe)-(µ-CMe₂)(η-C₅H₅)₂]⁺ which may be converted into di-µ-carbene complexes [Ru₂(CO)₂(µ-CCH₂)(µ-CMe₂)(η-C₅H₅)₂] and [Ru₂(CO)₂(µ-CHMe₂)(µ-CMe₂)(η-C₅H₅)₂]; the latter, whose structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction, releases Me₂CCHMe at 200 °C as the major volatile product.