10.1016/S0022-328X(97)00384-7
The research explores the generation of reactive mononuclear ruthenium fragments through photochemistry and their subsequent use in cluster capping reactions. Key chemicals involved include [Ru3(CO)12] (2), [Ru5C(CO)15] (4), and various bidentate phosphines such as 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp). The mononuclear complex [Ru(CO)4(C2H4)] (1) was generated by photolysis of [Ru3(CO)12] in the presence of ethylene and was found to be unsuitable for cluster capping due to its tendency to trimerise back to [Ru3(CO)12]. To address this, bidentate phosphines were used to anchor the mononuclear ruthenium fragments, resulting in the formation of complexes like [Ru(CO)4(η1-dppp)] (3d). These complexes showed potential in selective cluster capping reactions, as demonstrated by their reactivity with [Ru5C(CO)15] to form bridged cluster-mononuclear complexes such as [Ru5C(CO)14(η1,η1-dppp)Ru(CO)4] (5d). Further studies involved the formation of di-substituted complexes like [Ru(CO)3(η1-dppp)(η2-C2H4)] (9d) and their reactivity with clusters, yielding products such as [Ru6C(CO)16(μ2-dppp)] (7d). The research highlights the use of photochemistry to generate novel ruthenium fragments and their application in creating specific cluster products, offering new routes to known and previously unreported mononuclear ruthenium complexes.