Synthesis and structure of a new complex of ruthenium containing the tetra(μ-tertbutylbenzoate)diruthenium(II,III) unit

Abstract

The compound Ru 2Cl(μ-O 2CC 6H 4- p-CMe 3) 4 has been prepared by the reaction of Ru 2Cl(μ-O 2CCH 3) 4 with p-tertbutylbenzoic acid in a water/methanol mixture (1 : 1). The reactions of Ru 2Cl(μ-O 2CC 6H 4- p-CMe 3) 4 with AgBF 4, in anhydrous or wet thf, lead to [Ru 2(μ-O 2CC 6H 4- p-CMe 3) 4(thf) 2]BF 4 and [Ru 2(μ-O 2CC 6H 4- p-CMe 3) 4(thf) 2]OH, respectively. The compounds are characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic measurements and spectroscopic techniques. The structure of [Ru 2(μ-O 2CC 6H 4- p-CMe 3) 4(thf) 2]OH has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The compound has four bridging p-tertbutylbenzoate ligands with an RuRu distance of 2.260(1) Å; the coordination of each ruthenium atom is completed with a thf ligand which is occupying the axial position in the Ru 2 5+ unit.