Reactivity of 1.4-benzoquinone with trinuclear ruthenium and osmium clusters: Facile hydrogenation of the quinoid fragment

The reactions of 1,4-benzoquinone with [Ru3(CO)12] in the presence of hydrogen, and with [H2Os3(CO)10] gave products with a hydoquinone ligand is coordinated through one or both of the oxygen atoms to a metal-metal bond forming a bridge. Other products show partial hydrogenation of the aromatic ring accompanied by coordination through oxygen and carbon atoms. Spectroscopic and structural characterization of the products are presented.87