Ligand-promoted transformation of the μ3-η2-vinylidene ligand in the reaction between RuCo2(CO)9(μ3-η2-C= CHPh) and 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione(bpcd).: X-ray structure of RuCO2(CO)7(bpcd)-(μ3-η2-C=CHPh)1

The reaction of the heterometallic vinylidene cluster RuCo2(CO)(9)(mu (3)-eta (2)-C=CHPh) with the diphosphine ligand 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione (bpcd) proceeds readily in the presence of Me3NO to furnish the new cluster RuCo2(CO)(7)(bpcd)(mu (3)-eta (2)-C=CHPh) as the sole product. This cluster has been isolated by preparative chromatography and characterized in solution by IR spectroscopy. The molecular structure was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, which has confirmed the chelation of the bpcd ligand to the ruthenium center and the change in the coordination mode exhibited by the vinylidene ligand. RuCo2(CO)(7)(bpcd)(mu (3)-eta (2)-C=CHPh) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P (1) over bar, a 10.5788(9), b = 11.909(1), c = 19.526(2) Angstrom, alpha 84.491(9)degrees, beta = 78.068(8)degrees, gamma = 63.760(7)degrees, V = 2158.7(4) Angstrom (3), Z = 2, and d(calc) = 1.581.