SYNTHESIS AND VOLTAMMETRY OF 2 SERIES OF ISONITRILE HALIDE-COMPLEXES OF RUTHENIUM - RUX6-N(CNBUT)N (X = CL, BR)

Two new Ru(III) isonitrile/halide complexes, (Bu4N)[RuX4(CNBu(t))2] (X = Cl, Br), have been prepared by reaction of tert-butyl isocyanide (CNBu(t)) with (Bu4N)2[RuCl6] and K3Ru2Br9, respectively. The Ru(II) bromide complex RuBr2(CNBu(t))4 has been prepared by reduction of [RuBr4(CNBu(t))2]- in the presence of the isonitrile. The haldie-to-metal charge-transfer spectra and the mid- and far-infrared spectra are reported as are the voltammetric data for the two series RuCl6-n(CNBu(t))n and RuBr6-n- (CNBu(t))n (n = 0, 2, 4, 6) measured in CH2Cl2, CH3CN, and liquid SO2. Electrode potentials and redox-linked ligand substitution are discussed relative to ligand additivity.