Trimetallic complexes containing 1,1′-Rc′(Ctriple bond; length of mdashC)2 units [Rc′ = ruthenocene-1,1′-diyl, Ru(η-C5H4–)2]

Reactions between 1,1′-(Me3SiCtriple bond; length of mdashC)2Rc′ [Rc′ = ruthenocen-1,1′-diyl, Ru(η-C5H4–)2] and RuCl(PP)Cp′ in the presence of KF gave 1,1′-{Cp(PP)RuCtriple bond; length of mdashC}2Rc′ [Cp′ = Cp, PP = PPh31, P(m-tol)32, dppe 3, dppf 4; Cp′ = Cp∗, PP = dppe 5]. Compounds 1 and 2 react with tcne to give two diastereomers a/b of the allylic (vinylcarbene) complexes 6 and 7, while methylation of 5 gave the bis-vinylidene [1,1′-{Cp∗(dppe)Rudouble bond; length as m-dashCdouble bond; length as m-dashCMe}2Rc′](BPh4)2 (8). The X-ray structures of 4, 6b and 8 have been determined. Cyclic voltammograms indicate that there is some electronic communication between the ruthenium end-groups through the Rc′ centre.