Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Heteronuclear Fe–Ru Silyl Complex*

The reaction of the iron metalate [Fe{Si(OMe)3}(CO)3(dppm-P)]− (1b) with [Ru(CO)3Cl(μ-Cl)]2 afforded the heterodinuclear complex [(OC)3{(MeO)3Si}Fe(μ-dppm)Ru(CO)3Cl)] (Fe–Ru) (3) in which a long Fe–Ru separation of 2.956(1) A has been crystallographically evidenced. It was shown by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to correspond to the minimum-energy structure. Upon treatment of the corresponding hydrido complex [HFe{Si(OMe)3}(CO)3(dppm-P)] (1a) with [Ru(CO)3Cl(μ-Cl)]2, the chloride-bridged tetranuclear hydrido complex [(OC)3{(MeO)3Si}Fe(H)(μ-dppm)Ru(CO)2Cl(μ-Cl)]2 (4) was formed in which the Fe and Ru centers are only linked via bridging dppm ligands.