Cluster complex metathesis: synthesis, structures, and dynamic behaviour of Bi- and tri-metallic hexanuclear cluster complexes [MM′Ru4(µ3-H)2(CO)12(PPh3)2](M = M′= Cu, Ag, or Au; M = Cu, M′= Ag or Au; M = Ag, M′= Au)

The hexanuclear metal clusters [MM′Ru4(µ3-H)2(CO)12(PPh3)2](M = M′= Cu, Ag, or Au; M = Cu, M′= Ag or Au; M = Ag, M′= Au) have been prepared by treating the dianion [Ru4(µ-H)2(CO)12]2– with the complexes [MX(PPh3)](M = Au or Cu, X = Cl; M = Ag, X = l) in the presence of TIPF6; the trimetallic clusters may alternatively be synthesized by metathesis of the two appropriate bimetallic species, and the crystal structure of the compounds with the metal cores Cu2Ru4, Ag2Ru4, and CuAgRu4 have been established by X-ray diffraction.