Synthesis and characterization of a novel (μ3-oxo)tetraruthenium cluster

A novel (μ3-oxo)tetraruthenium cluster (2) was synthesized in an isolated yield of 73% by the reaction of a zerovalent ruthenium complex, Ru(η6-1,3,5-cyclooctatriene)(η2-dimethyl fumarate)2 (1), with water under reflux in 1,4-dioxane for 6 h. The structure of 2 has been determined by X-ray crystallography.