DERIVATIVE CHEMISTRY OF THE CLUSTER RU4(C O)12(MU-4-ETA-2-N2ET2)

The title compound (1) can be converted into H2Ru4CO)11(mu4-eta2-N2Et2 ) (2) in three ways: a) by direct hydrogenation, b) by a H-/H+ sequenc e, c) by reduction with Na/Hg (reversible with FeCp2+ /CO) and subsequ ent protonation. The structure of 2 has been determined by an X-ray an alysis. 2 is a dibasic acid and shows ligand fluxionality as demonstra ted by NMR. 2 adds phenylacetylene either by insertion into one Ru-H b ond or by H2 replacement yielding HRu4(CO)10(mu4-N2Et2)(mu-CPh=CH2) (3 ) or Ru4(CO11(mu4-N2Et2)(mu4-HC=CPh) (4).