Preparation of Ru(CO) 3(PMe 3)MeI and its acetyl derivatives

Abstract

[Ru(CO) 4PMe 3] reacts with MeI to give fac-[Ru(CO) 3(PMe 3)(Me)I]. The latter reacts with PMe 3 to give a mixture of the three isomers of cis-bis(trimethylphosphine)- cis-dicarbonyl acetyl iodide [Ru(CO) 2(PMe 3) 2(COMe)I]. Decarbonylation of the mixture gives only the trans-bis(trimethylphosphine)- cis-dicarbonyl methyl iodide complex [Ru(CO) 2(PMe 3) 2MeI], which was also prepared by oxidative addition of MeI to [Ru(CO) 3(PMe 3) 2].