Preparation, characterization, and crystal structure of [Ru2Cl(μ-O2CMe)(μ-PhNCHNPh)3]: a way to tris(formamidinato)diruthenium(II,III) complexes

The complex chloroacetatotris(N,N′-diphenylformamidinato)diruthenium(II,III), [Ru2Cl(μ-O2CMe)(μ-DPhF)3] (1), has been isolated in the reaction of [Ru2Cl(μ-O2CMe)4] with N,N′-diphenylformamidine (HDPhF) in thf. This complex is an intermediate in the total substitution process of acetate ligands in [Ru2Cl(μ-O2CMe)4] by formamidinate groups. The remaining acetate can be substituted by other ligands, allowing the use of compound 1 as starting material for other tris(formamidinato)diruthenium complexes. The syntheses and crystal structures of 1 · HDPhF, 1 · 2thf, and [Ru2Cl(μ-O2CC6H4OC10H21)(μ-DPhF)3] (2) are reported.