NON-POLYMERIC DIRUTHENIUM(II,III) CARBOXYLATES - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES OF [RU2CL(MU-O(2)CCME(3))(4)(H2O)] AND [RU2CL-(MU-O(2)CCHME(2))(4)(THF)] (THF=TETRAHYDROFURAN)

The reaction of [Ru2Cl(mu-O(2)CMe)(4)] with trimethylacetic acid and isobutyric acid in methanol-water gave [Ru2Cl(mu-O(2)CCMe(3))(4)(H2O)] 1 and [Ru2Cl(mu-O(2)CCHMe(2))(4)(H2O)] 2 respectively. Recrystallization of these compounds from tetrahydrofuran (thf) led to [Ru2Cl(mu-O(2)CCMe(3))(4)(thf)] 3 and [Ru2Cl(mu-O(2)CCHMe(2))(4)(thf)] 4, which lose thf giving [Ru2Cl(mu-O(2)CCHMe(2))(4)] 5 and [Ru2Cl(mu-O(2)CCHMe(2))(4)] 6. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis. IR spectroscopy, conductivity and magnetic measurements; the crystal structures of 1 and 4 were determined by X-ray diffraction methods. Complex 1 has two ruthenium atoms bridged by four trimethylacetato ligands, one axial position being occupied by a chlorine atom and the other by a water molecule. Complex 4 has a similar structure with one chlorine atom and one thf molecule occupying the axial positions. Thus. in both cases the crystal structure determination shows the non-polymeric nature. the first examples for compounds of this type with alkanecarboxylate ligands.