Reaction of a bulky phosphite with [Ru3(CO)12]: The molecular structure of one of the decomposition products

Mono- and bis-substituted phosphite complexes [Ru3(CO)12−x Lx] (L = tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite; x = 1, 2) were synthesized by simple substitution reactions, and were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The monosubstituted ruthenium complex disproportionates in acetone producing a mononuclear ruthenium complex as one of the decomposition products. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis established the molecular structure of this new compound.

Graphical abstractAn interesting C–H activation is observed in one of the decomposition products obtained from the phosphite substituted ruthenium compound, [Ru3(CO)11L] (L = tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite). Mono- and bis-phosphite substituted complexes of trirutheniumdodecacarbonyl are synthesized by simple substitution reactions.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide