AbstractVinylidene Transition‐Metal Complexes, XXXV[1]. — The Supporting Role of Phosphino Ester Ligands for the Synthesis of Neutral Carbene, Vinylidene and Allenylidene Ruthenium(II) ComplexesThe reaction of [RuCl2(PPh3)3] (1) with the phosphino esters iPr2P(CH2)nCO2R (2–4) leads to complete (n = 1; R CH3, C2H5) or partial (n = 2; R CH3) displacement of the PPh3 ligands and formation of the octahedral ruthenium(II) complexes [RuCl2{k2(P,O)‐iPr2PCH2CO2R}2] (5, 6) and [RuCl2(PPh3){k(P)‐iPr2PCH2CH2CO2Me}{k2(P,O)‐iPr2PCH2CH2CO2Me}] (7). Treatment of 5 with LiBr and LiI affords the dibromo‐ and diiodoruthenium derivatives 8 and 9. While compound 5 reacts with CO and SO2 by cleavage of one Ru—O bond to yield the 1:1 adducts [RuCl2(L){k(P)‐iPr2PCH2CO2Me}{k2(P,O)‐iPr2PCH2CO2Me}] (10, 11), the reaction of the dibromo derivative 8 with CO in solution gives the dicarbonyl complex [RuBr2(CO)2{k(P)‐iPr2PCH2CO2Me}2](13). If CO is passed over 8 in the solid state, the corresponding monocarbonyl compound 14 is formed. The hydridoruthenium(II) complex 16, which is obtained from equimolar amounts of [RuHCl(CO)(PiPr3)2] (15) and 2, reacts with HCCMe by insertion to give the vinyl derivative [RuCl{E—CHCHMe}(CO)(PiPr3){k2(P,O)‐iPr2CH2CO2Me}] (17). Treatment of 5 with HC̊' (R' H, Me, tBu, Ph) and of 6, 8, 9 with HCCPh affords upon photochemical activation the octahedral vinylidene complexes [RuX2‐(CCHR){k(P)‐iPr2PCH2CO2R}{k2(P,O)‐iPr2PCH2CO2R}] (18–21 and 23–25) in good to excellent yield. At room temperature, these compounds (with the exception of 25) are highly fluxional in solution. From 31P‐NMR measurements, the free energies of activation ΔG‡ for the intramolecular rearrangement have been determined. Whereas the reaction of 5 with HCČH2CH2OH leads to the carbene complex 30 containing the cyclic oxycarbene :C(CH2)3O as ligand, the functionalized vinylidene derivatives 31 and 32 are formed on treatment of 5 with aryl‐substituted alkynols HC≡RR'OH (R Ph, R' Ph, o‐Tol). These react in toluene solution at 80°C by elimination of water to give the allenylidene complexes [RuCl2(CCCRR'){k(P)‐iPr2PCH2CO2Me}{k2(P,O)‐iPr2PCH2CO2Me}] (33, 34). The X‐ray structure analysis of 33 reveals a trans disposition of the chloro ligands, the phosphorus atoms as well as of one CO oxygen and the α‐C atom of the allenylidene unit. Compound 33 reacts with CO, CNtBu and pyridine to give the 1:1 adducts [RuCl2(L)(CCCPh2){k(P)‐iPr2PCH2CO2Me}2] (35–37) and with HCl by attack on the central CC bond to yield the vinylcarbene complex [RuCl2(C(Cl)CHCRR'){k((P)‐iPr2‐PCH2CO2Me}{k2(P,O)‐iPr2PCH2CO2Me}] (38). The preparation of the phosphino ketone iPr2PCH2C(O)CH3 (40) and its ruthenium complexes 41 and 42 is briefly described.