Nucleophilic properties of Ru(CCH)(dppe)Cp∗: Synthesis and structure of Ru{c-CCArC(O)C(O)O}(dppe)Cp∗ [Ar = 2,4-(NO2)2C6H3]

► Nucleophilic attack of an ethynyl-ruthenium complex on a diaryl oxalate gave a dihydrofuran-3,4-dione complex. ► The molecular structure was determined from a single-crystal X-ray study. ► A plausible mechanism for this transformation is given.