Synthesis and characterization of derivatives of a hydroxymethyl rutheniumcomplex

Reaction of cis-Ru(bpy)(2)(Co)CH2OH+PF6- (1, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) with ac etic anhydride yields the corresponding acetoxymethyl derivative 2. However , reaction of 1 with a large excess of acetic acid in acetonitrile yields c ompound 3, containing an acetamidomethyl ligand instead of the acetoxymethy l group. Compounds 2 and 3 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography ; in the crystalline state, 3 exists as a binuclear compound held together by hydrogen bonds to a single water molecule through the acetyl carbon,yl g roups.