Synthesis, Molecular Structure and Derivatization of the Triruthenacarborane Cluster Compound [1-SMe2-2,2-(CO)2-7,11-(Μ-H)2-2,7,11-{Ru2(CO)6}-closo-2,1-RuCB10H8]*

In toluene at reflux temperatures [Ru3(CO)12] and 7-SMe2-nido-7-CB10H12 give the charge-compensated cluster complex [1-SMe2-2,2-(CO)2-7,11-(μ-H)2-2,7,11-Ru2(CO)6-closo-2,1-RuCB10H8] (1) . Treatment of 1 with dppm in THF affords [1-SMe2-2,2-(CO)2-7,11-(μ-H)2-2,7,11-Ru2(μ -dppm)(CO)4-closo-2,1-RuCB10H8] (2) [dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane; THF = tetrahydrofuran]. The latter complex on heating in THF with [ $${\hbox{NBu}^{n}}_{4}$$ ]F yields the salt [ $${\hbox{NBu}^{n}}_{4}$$ ][1-SMe-2,2-(CO)2-7,11-(μ-H)2-2,7,11-Ru2(μ -dppm)(CO)4-closo-2,1-RuCB10H8] (3). Reaction of 3 with [AuCl(PPh3)] and Tl[PF6] gives the neutral zwitterionic complex [1-S(Me)Au (PPh3)-2,2-(CO)2-7,11-(μ-H)2-2,7,11-Ru2(μ-dppm)(CO)4-closo-2,1-RuCB10H8] (4). The structures of 1, 3 and 4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.