The synthesis and reactivity of some indenyl and bis-indenyl ruthenium carbonyl complexes

The reaction of [Ru-3(CO)(12)] (1), with indene in refluxing xylene affords [{(eta(5)-C9H7)Ru(CO)(2)}(2)] (2), in high yield. An analogous reaction of 1 with 2-phenylindene affords the expected dinuclear complex [{(eta(5)-C9H6Ph)Ru(CO)(2)}(2)] (5), and a heptaruthenium cluster [(C9H4Ph)Ru-7(mu-H)(mu-CO)(2)(CO)(16)](6). The indenyl ligand in compound 6 exhibits a novel bonding mode in which the benzenoid ring is mu(4),eta(1):eta(1):eta(2):eta(2) bound to the cluster. Refluxing 1 with bis-indenyl methane affords the dinuclear complex [Ru-2(CO)4{mu-(eta 5-C9H6)(2)CH2}] (7), which reacts with iodine via Ru-Ru bond cleavage to give [Ru2I2(CO)4{(eta(5)-C9H6)(2)CH2}] (8). (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.