Synthesis, molecular structure, and redox behavior of an oxo-bridged dimer of a ruthenium-bpb nitrosyl

We have prepared the oxo-bridged dimer [Ru(bpb)(NO]2(μ-O) in 60% isolated yield from the reaction of the known Ru(bpb)(NO)Cl with silver nitrite. The compound exhibits a υNO of 1758 cm−1 (KBr pellet). The crystal structure reveals a linear ON–Ru–O–Ru–NO fragment with the oxo atom serving as an inversion center in the molecule. The redox behavior in DMF is characterized by a reversible reduction followed by a second but irreversible reduction in this solvent.