trans-Heteroleptic carboxylate-bridged paddlewheel diruthenium(ii, ii) complexes with 2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoate ligands.

Carboxylate-ligand substitution reactions of paddlewheel-type diruthenium(ii, iii) complexes ([Ru(RCO2)4](+)) with 2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (2,6-(CF3)2PhCO2(-)) involving a selective reduction to [Ru] provide a series of trans-substituted paddlewheel-type diruthenium(ii, ii) complexes, [Ru(2,6-(CF3)2PhCO2)2(RCO2)2(THF)2] (R = CH3, ; C2H5, ; C3H7, ; C4H9, ; C(CH3)3, ; 2,3,5,6-F4Ph, ). Crystal structures of were determined, and their electronic states were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, density functional theory (DFT) and magnetic measurements. This is the first example of trans-heteroleptic carboxylate-bridged [Ru] complexes.