Binuclear ruthenium complexes employing bis(dimethylphosphino)methane (dmpm). Crystal and molecular structures of Ru2(dmpm)2(CO)5.cntdot.C6H5CH3 and Ru2(dmpm)2(CO)4(PhCCPh)

The reaction of bis(dimethylphosphino) methane with Ru 3 (CO) 12 under CO pressure at 120 o C leads to the quantitative formation of the binuclear ruthenium complex Ru 2 (dmpm) 2 (CO) 5 . The reaction of Ru 2 (dmpm) 2 (CO) 5 with acids such as HBF 4 occurs rapidly and leads to quantitative protonation of the metal-metal bond forming [HRu 2 (dmpm) 2 (CO) 5 ]BF 4 . The reaction with diphenylacetylene occurs at 90 o C in toluene leading to Ru 2 (dmpm) 2 (CO) 4 (C 6 H 5 CCC 6 H 5 )