Two gold–ruthenium clusters derived from Ru3(μ-H)3(μ3-CBr)(CO)9

The reaction between AuMe(PPh3) and Ru3(μ-H)3(μ3-CBr)(CO)9 (1) affords the novel heptanuclear cluster Au4Ru3(μ3-CMe)(Br)(CO)9(PPh3)3 (2), containing an Au/Ru3/Au trigonal pyramidal cluster face-capped by two Au(PPh3) groups and a CMe ligand, together with Au2Ru3(μ-H)(μ3-CMe)(CO)9(PPh3)2 (3), formed by isolobal replacement of two of the three μ-H atoms in 1 by Au(PPh3) groups. The latter co-crystallises with the analogous μ3-CH complex, as also shown spectroscopically.