Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Reactions of the protonated dinuclear ruthenium complex [[(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(mu-H)]+ with
M V Ovchinnikov1, A M Ellern, I A Guzei
1Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
Abstract:
Complex [[(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(mu-H)](+)BF(4)(-) (1H(+)BF(4)(-)), which features a protonated Ru-Ru bond, reacts with F(-) to give (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)Ru(2)(CO)(4) (2), resulting from the cleavage of both SiMe(2) groups, with I(-) to give the Ru-Ru cleaved product [(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(H)(I)(3), and with phosphines (PEt(3), PMe(2)Ph) to give [[(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(H)(PR(3))](+) (4a-b). Reaction of 1H(+)BF(4)(-) and NaOMe in THF generates [(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))(2)SiMe(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4) (5), resulting from the cleavage of a single SiMe(2) group, while the reaction of 1H(+)BF(4)(-) and NaOMe in MeOH generates [mu-eta(5):eta(5)-(C(5)H(3)SiMe(2)OMe)(C(5)H(4))SiMe(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4) (6), resulting from the partial cleavage of a SiMe(2) group. Reaction of 1H(+)BF(4)(-) and NaSR (R = Me, Et) in THF generates [(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(H)(SR) (R = Me, Et; 7a-b), which undergoes rearrangement upon contact with neutral and basic alumina or silica to give complexes [mu-eta(5):eta(1):eta(5)-(C(5)H(3)C=O)(C(5)H(4))(SiMe(2))(2)O]Ru(2)(mu-SR)(CO)(3) (R = Me, Et; 8a-b). Molecular structures of 4a, 6, and 8a as determined by X-ray diffraction studies are also presented.
Related Concept Videos
Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions
In 1896, the German chemist Paul Walden discovered that he could interconvert pure enantiomeric (+) and (-) malic acids through a series of reactions. This conversion suggested the involvement of optical inversion during the substitution reaction. Further, in 1930, Sir Christopher Ingold described for the first time two different forms of nucleophilic substitution reactions, which are known as SN1 (nucleophilic substitution unimolecular) and SN2 (nucleophilic substitution...
Electrophiles
While a positive electrophile, like a proton, reacts due to its vacant, low-energy 1s orbital, the...
Reactivity of Enolate Ions
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Nitration of Benzene
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Elimination–Addition
Radical Reactivity: Nucleophilic Radicals

