Build-up of a Ru6 octahedral cluster core stabilized by tert-butyl germyl ligands

In heptane solvent, Ru3(CO)12 reacts with tertiary butyl germane at reflux, to afford six new bimetallic ruthenium–germanium carbonyl cluster complexes Ru3(CO)9(μ3-GetBu)2, 1, Ru2(CO)6(μ-GetBuH)3, 2, Ru4(CO)10(μ4-Ge2tBu2)(μ-GetBuH)2, 3, Ru4(CO)8(μ4-Ge2tBu2)(μ-GetBuH)2(μ3-GetBu)(H), 4, Ru5(CO)12(μ3-GetBu)2(μ4-GetBu)(H), 5, Ru6(CO)12(μ3-GetBu)4(H)2, 6. Complex 2 was obtained as a result of cluster fragmentation while cluster condensation provided higher nuclearity ruthenium–germanium complexes 3–6 with varying Ru–Ge ratios. All six compounds were structurally characterized by a combination of IR, 1H NMR, mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.