Ruthenium clusters with nitrogen ligands IV. Double C-H activation of ketimine methyl groups on triruthenium carbonyl clusters. Crystal structure of Ru3(μ-H)23-η2-(N,C)-4-HOC6H4N=CMeCH>(CO)9*Et2O

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(95)05416-M

The reaction of Ru3(CO)12 with the Schiff base 4-hydroxyphenyl-N,N-dimethylimide in refluxing cyclohexane gave the title complex in excellent yield.An X-ray crystallographic study showed that the product is derived from an unusual double C-H activation of the methyl group.An analogous reaction with the asymmetric Schiff base p-hydroxyphenyl-N,N-isobutylmethylimide showed that this reaction is specific for the imine-bound methyl group.Keywords: Ruthenium; Carbonyl; Ketoimine; Crystal structure; Fluxionality