Preparation, characterisation, molecular and crystal structure of the octaruthenium arene clusters [Ru8H4(CO)18(η6-arene)](arene = C6H6or C16H16)

Abstract

Two octaruthenium arene clusters, [Ru8H4(CO)18(η-6-arene)](arene = C6H61 or C16H162), have been isolated from the thermolysis of [Ru3(CO)12] in octane, in the presence of cyclohexene (C6H10) or [2.2] paracyclophane (C16H16), respectively. Both compounds 1 and 2 have been characterised in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and their molecular and crystal structures determined. The reaction of 2 with CO resulted in conversion to the carbido cluster [Ru6C(CO)14(µ3-η2:η2:η2-C16H16)] and [Ru3(CO)12] in quantitative amounts. Compound 1 did not react in the same way but yielded both [Ru4H4(CO)12] and [Ru4H2(CO)13].