Chemistry of the metal carbonyls. Part L. Dihydrotetracarbonylruthenium and related compounds

Abstract

Treatment of dodecacarbonyltriruthenium with sodium in liquid ammonia followed by the action of phosphoric acid affords dihydrotetracarbonylruthenium. The hydride is thermally very unstable. It reacts with halogens and with chlorinated solvents to give ruthenium carbonyl halides, and with trimethylstannane or triphenyltin chloride to give the complexes (R₃Sn)₂Ru(CO)₄(R = Me or Ph). With triphenylphosphine, H₂Ru(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂ is formed, which can also be obtained by reduction of the corresponding chloro-complex with lithium aluminium hydride. The more soluble and more reactive triethylphosphine complex has been prepared, and its reactions with chlorinated solvents and trimethylchlorosilane are reported.