Dicarboxylato-bridged diruthenium units in two different oxidation states: the first step towards the synthesis of Creutz–Taube analogs with dinuclear Ru2n+ species

Two compounds having two Ru2(DAniF)3 units (DAniF=N,N′-di-p-anisylformamidinate) linked by terephthalate anions have been made. Reaction of (NBu4)2O2CC6H4CO2 with the mixed-valence, mixed-ligand species Ru2(DAniF)3(O2CCH3)Cl (1) gives a compound with the formula [Ru2(DAniF)3Cl]2(O2CC6H4CO2) (2) in which the two diruthenium units are formally Ru25+, while in the second compound the diruthenium units have been reduced with zinc powder so that the formula is [Ru2(DAniF)3Cl0.12]2(O2CC6H4CO2) (3). The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 have been studied and the crystal structures of 2 and 3 are reported. All three compounds are electrochemically active.