5-COORDINATE COMPLEXES [RUHC1(CO)(PBUT2R)2] (R=ME OR ET) FORMED FROM RUTHENIUM TRICHLORIDE AND THE TERTIARY PHOSPHINE IN 2-METHOXYETHANO

RuCl3 and PBut2R (R = Me or Et) react in boiling 2-methoxyethanol to give five-coordinate complexes of type [RuHCl(CO)(PBut2R)2], which are light- and air-sensitive. RuHCl(CO)(PBut2Me)2 reacts with carbon monoxide to give RuHCl(CO)2(PBut2Me)2, configuration (VI). RuHCl(CO)(PBut2Et)2 reacts similarly with carbon monoxide and also reacts with methyl isocyanide to give a single product [RuHCl (CO)(MeNC)(PBut2Et)2], probably having configuration (VII). With hydrogen chloride [RuHCl(CO)(PBut2Me)2] gives an unidentified red product which with pyridine gives [RuCl2(CO)(py)2(PBut2Me)] (X). 1H n.m.r. and i.r. data {νv(RuH), v(RuCl), νv(CO), νv(CN)} are given and discussed. © 1979.