The insertion of 1-phenyl-1-propyne into the ruthenaborane cluster HRu 4(CO) 12BH 2 and the isolation and molecular structure of 1-phenyl-2,3-dimethylazulene

Abstract

Photolysis of the tetraruthenaborane butterfly cluster HRu 4(CO) 12BH 2 with 1-phenyl-1-propyne yields the cluster product HRu 4(CO) 12B(H)C(Ph)CMeH. Interestingly, 1-phenyl-2,3-dimethylazulene has also been isolated from the reaction mixture. The formation of this substituted azulene is an example of a novel cyclodimerisation of the alkyne. The crystal structure of 1-phenyl-2,3-dimethylazulene has been determined.