Homoleptic Ru(II)-diphosphine and Ru(II)-diarsine complexes [Ru(L-L)(3)](OT
f)(2) (L-L=Me2P(CH2)(n)PMe2; n=1, dmpm; n=2, dmpe) and 1,2-C6H4(AsMe2)(2) (
diars) have been isolated, in which the Ru(II) state is stabilised to an un
precedented degree, and the crystal structure of [Ru(diars)(3)]Cl-2 has bee
n determined. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.