Synthesis and characterisation of hexanuclear ruthenium clusters containing a μ4-nitrene ligand. Crystal structures of [Ru6(CO)15(μ-CO)2(μ4NH)(μ-OMe)μ3-η2-N(H)C(O)OMe] and [Ru6(CO)16(μ-CO)2(μ4-NH)(μ-OMe)(μ-NCO)]

Abstract

Two hexaruthenium carbonyl clusters [Ru6(CO)15(μ-CO)2(μ4-NH) (μ-OMe){μ3-η2-N(H)C(O)OMe}] and [Ru6(CO)16(μ-CO)2-(μ4-NH)(μ-OMe)(μ-NCO)]2 have been isolated from the pyrolysis of H2Ru3(CO))9NOCH3, and single-crystal X-ray structure analysis shows that both 1 and 2 have a square planar arrangement of four ruthenium atoms capped by a μ4-nitrene ligand, with two additional ruthenium atoms bridging two opposite Ru-Ru edges of the square base to form a ‘boat’ form metal framework.