NiRu4(CO)9(µ-PPh2)2(µ4-CCPri)2: a pentanuclear mixed metal cluster with a novel metal framework

The synthesis of a novel pentanuclear nickel–ruthenium cluster, [NiRu4(CO)9(µ-PPh2)2(µ4-CCPri)2], via the addition of an electron-rich species [(η-C5H5)Ni(CO)]2 to a carbocationic µ3-acetylide group in [Ru3(CO)9(µ3-CCPri)(PPh2)] is described; the X-ray structural analysis has shown that the metal framework consists of a ruthenium atom butterfly with the open edge bridged by a nickel atom, and the two acetylide ligands are co-ordinated in multi-site fashion to the metal cluster.