Synthesis and characterization of face-capping triruthenium cluster complexes of pentamethylfullerenes

Reaction of the pentamethylhydrofullerene C60HMe5 (1) with Ru3(CO)12 in refluxing toluene affords the face-capping cluster complex Ru3(CO)9(η2,η2,η2-C60HMe5) (2). Elution of 1 on TLC plates (silica gel) leads to hydroxyepoxidation of the cyclopentadiene group to generate C60Me5(O)(OH) (3) and C60Me5(O)2(OH) (4). Reaction of 3 with Ru3(CO)12 in refluxing toluene gives the face-capping complex Ru3(CO)9(η2,η2,η2-C60Me5(O)(OH)) (5). The structures of 2, 3, and 5 have been determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study.