Synthesis and reactivity of 2-(tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)-indenyl dinuclear ruthenium complex [η5:η5-(tBuC5H3)(C9H6)]Ru2(CO)4: Halogen induced Ru cleavage from indenyl ring

Thermal reaction of Ru3(CO)12 with unsymmetrical Fv ligand 2-(tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)-indene provided [η5:η5-(tBuC5H3)(C9H6)]Ru2(CO)4 (2) in good yield. When 2 reacted with three or more equivalent of halogen X2, compounds [(η5-tBuC5H3)(C9H6X)]Ru(CO)2X (X = Br, 3; I, 4) were isolated in moderate yield. In complexes 3 and 4 only the Cp rings were coordinated with Ru(CO)2X, along with uncomplexed halogenated-indenyl rings. All the new complexes have been fully characterized. X-ray characterization of 2, 3, and 4 are also provided.