Alkyl, hydrido-, and related compounds of ruthenium(II) with trimethylphosphine. X-Ray crystal structures of hydrido(tetrahydroborato-HH′)tris(trimethylphosphine)ruthenium(II), tri-µ-chloro-bis[tris(trimethylphosphine)ruthenium(II)] tetrafluoroborate, and bis[cis-methyltetrakis(trimethylphosphine)ruthenio]mercury(II)–tetrahydrofuran(1/1)

Abstract

A number of trimethylphosphine complexes of ruthenium(II) with alkyl, hydrido-, halogeno-, acetato-, and tetrahydroborato-ligands and in addition the halide-bridged complex [(Me₃P)₃Ru(µ-Cl)₃Ru(PMe₃)₃]BF₄ and the mercury-bridged species [cis-RuMe(PMe₃)₄]₂Hg have been synthesized. The X-ray crystal structures of RuH(BH₄)(PMe₃)₃ and of the tri-µ-chloro- and mercury-bridged complexes have been determined. In the borohydride the metal atom has an octahedral co-ordination, with a bidentate BH₄^– ligand. The two Ru–H(borohydride) bonds [1.81 (4) and 1.85(4)Å] are trans to the hydride [Ru–H 1.49(4)Å] and one phosphine [Ru–P 2.259(3)Å]; the latter is shorter than those to the other phosphines [2.304(3) and 2.305(3)Å] which are trans to each other. The chloro-bridged complex has the usual confacial bioctahedral X₃MY₃MX₃ structure with Ru–P and Ru–Cl bond lengths in the ranges 2.248(4)–2.256(4) and 2.463(4)–2.488(4)Å respectively. In the mercury-bridged species as the tetrahydrofuran solvate, the Ru–Hg distances are 2.798(4) and 2.800(4)Å and the Ru–Hg–Ru angle is 170.7(2)° Ru–C distances are 2.21 (1) and 2.23(1)Å whilst Ru–P distances range from 2.308(4) to 2.344(4)Å with those trans to the Ru–Me bonds shorter than the rest. The mercury atom makes close contacts with a number of hydrogens from methyl groups.