Mercury derivatives of exo-nido-ruthenacarborane

Symmetrical mercury derivative of exo-nicio-ruthenacarborane was prepared b y two routes: mercuration of exo-nido-5,6,10-[Cl(Ph3P)(2)Ru]-5,6,10 -(mu-H) (3)-10-H-7,8-C2B9H8 (1) and interaction of Ru(PPh3)(3)Cl-2 with [10,10'-Hg- (7,8-C2B9H11)(2)]Cs-2. Using o-carboran-9-ylmercury trifluoroacetate for me rcuration of I leads to an unsymmetrical mercury compound with 9-o-carboran yl and exo-nido-ruthenacarboranyl ligands: 5',6', 10'-exo-nido-[Cl(Ph3P)(2) Ru]-5'.6', 10'-(mu-H)(3)-10'-(1,2-C2B10H11Hg-9)-7',8'-C2B9H8 (4). The same compound was prepared by the action of Ru(PPh3)(3)Cl-2 on [9,10'-Hg-(1,2-C2 B10H11)(7',8'-C2B10H11)]Cs (5). Both types of new compounds were obtained a s a mixture of cis/trans isomers which were separated and characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectra The X-ray structure of trans-5',6',10'-e xo-nido -[Cl(Ph3P)(2)Ru]-5',6',10'(mu-H)(3)-10'-(1,2-C2B10H11Hg-9)-7',8'- C 2B9H8 was determined, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.