REACTIONS OF [(ETA-5-C5ME5)RU(OME)]2 .14. HYDROLYSIS PRODUCTS - SYNTHESIS AND MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF [(ETA-5-C5ME4ET)RUOH]4

Hydrolysis of the title complexes [Cp*RuOMe]2 (2a) and [Cp RuOMe]2 (2b) (Cp* = eta5-C5Me5, Cp=eta5-C5Me4Et) in a two phase pentane/water system yields the tetrameric hydroxides [Cp*RuOH]4 (3a) and [Cp RuOH]4 (3b), as rather inert, robust molecules; the tetrameric structure was established in the case of 3b by X-ray crystallography. Hydrolysis of the precursor complexes [Cp*RuCl2)2 (1a) and [Cp RuC]2]2 (1b) with H2O/K2CO3 gave a trimeric Ru-Ru-Ru complex, the hydroxo analogue of the known RU3CP*2(C5Me3mu-CH2)2(mu3-O)(mu2-H)SO4. Reactions and electrochemical oxidation of the compounds are discussed.