Probing the thermal stability of μ-oxo triruthenium clusters

This work presents for the first time a systematic investigation on the thermal decomposition and thermal stability of ten representative triruthenium clusters of general formula [Ru-3(mu(3)-O)(mu-Ac)(6)(L)(2)L '](n) (Ac = CH3COO and L = N-heterocycles or H2O; L ' = py, Ac, H2O, CO or NO; n = 1+ or 0). Despite the variation of the N-heterocyclic L ligands, the pyridyl, nitrosyl and carbonyl species are quite similar in terms of their thermal decomposition path. The loosely bound solvent molecules are lost first, followed by the loss of the N-heterocyclic ligands, with the final collapse of the metallic core upon acetates oxidation in the range from 270 to 300 degrees C. Their thermal stability depends on the nature of the L and L ' ligands, varying up to 60 degrees depending on the presence of NO, CO or N-heterocyclic ligands. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study systematically investigates the thermal decomposition and thermal stability of ten representative triruthenium clusters, showing that their thermal decomposition path and stability depend on the nature of ligands, with the metallic core collapsing upon acetates oxidation in the range from 270 to 300 degrees C.