Treatment of solvated Ru2+ ions in acetone solution with a large exces
s of buta-1,3-diene results in the formation of the unusual cyclooctat
riene/cyclooctadienyl complex [Ru(eta(6)-C8H10)(1-3: 5-6-eta-C8H11)]() 1 derived from the cyclodimerisation and dehydrogenation of two pair
s of butadiene molecules at the metal centre.