Activation of a µ3-ethylidyne ligand through oxidation–deprotonation: X-ray structure of [Ru3(µ3-CMe)(µ-CO)3(η-C5Me5)3][BF4]

Oxidation of the µ3-ethylidyne complex [Ru3(µ3-CMe)(µ-CO)3(η-c5Me5)3] yields [Ru3(µ3-CMe)(µ-CO)3(η-C5Me5)3]+(characterized by X-ray diffraction) and [Ru3(µ3-CMe)(µ-CO)3(η-C5Me5)3]2+; the latter deprotonates to give the µ3– vinylidene cation [Ru3(µ3-CCH2)(µ-CO)3(η-C5Me5)3]+ which reacts with methyl-lithium to form [Ru3(µ3-CEt)(µ-CO)3(η-C5Me5)3], completing a µ3-Cme th µ3-CEt homologaion.