Synthesis and structural characterization of [(μ-H)Ru3(CO)8{μ-S(CH2)3SH}(μ-dppe)] and [Ru3(CO)5{μ2-S(CH2)3S}2(η2-dppe)] (dppe=Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)

The reaction of 1,3-propanedithiol with [Ru3(CO)10(μ-dppe)] (2) at 66°C afforded the thiolate complexes [(μ-H)Ru3(CO)8{μ-S(CH2)3SH}(μ-dppe)] (6) and [Ru3(CO)5{μ2-S(CH2)3S}2(η2-dppe)] (7) in 25 and 23% yields respectively. Compound 6 is formed by simple oxidative addition of one of the S–H bonds of 1,3-propanedithiol while the structurally unique 7 consists of an open triruthenium cluster with four terminal and one asymmetrically bridged carbonyl groups, two doubly bridged propanedithiolate ligands and a chelating dppe ligand.