Facile and quantitative activation of dihydrogen by the phosphinidene-stabilized ruthenium cluster Ru4(CO)13(.mu.3-PPh): synthesis and spectroscopic and structural characterization of (.mu.-H)2Ru4(CO)12(.mu.3-PPh)

The phosphinidene-stabilized butterfly cluster Ru 4 (CO) 13 (μ 3 -PPh) (1) has a square pyramidal nido Ru 4 P skeleton with three rutbenium atoms and one phosphorus atom in a square face. The cluster 1 readily adds dihydrogon at room temperature and 1 atm pressure under photolytic conditions, affording (μ-H) 2 Ru 4 (CO) 12 (μ 3 -PPb) (2) quantitatively. The dihydride 2 is stable in the solid state and in solution under H 2 .