Synthesis,structure, and kinetic studies on [RuCl2(NCCH3)2(cod)]

RuCl₂(NCCH₃)₂(cod)], an alternative starting material to RuCl₂(cod)] _n for the preparation of ruthenium(II) complexes, has been prepared from the polymer compound and isolated in yields up to 87% using a new work-up procedure. The compound has been obtained as a yellow solid without water of crystallization. The complexes RuCl₂(NCR)₂(cod)] spontaneously transform into dimers Ru₂Cl(μ-Cl)₃(cod)₂(NCR)] (R?=?Me, Ph). ¹H NMR kinetic experiments for these transformations evidenced first-order behavior. RuCl₂(NCPh)₂(cod)] dimerizes slower by a factor of ten than RuCl₂(NCCH₃)₂(cod)]. The following activation parameters, ΔH ^#?=?114?±?3?kJ?mol^?1 and ΔS ^#?=?66?±?9?J?K^?1?mol^?1 for R?=?CH₃CN (ΔG ^#?=?94?±?5?kJ?mol^?1, 298.15?K) and ΔH ^#?=?122?±?2?kJ?mol^?1 and ΔS ^#?=?75?±?6?J?K^?1?mol^?1 for R?=?Ph (ΔG ^#?=?100?±?4?kJ?mol^?1, 298.15?K), have been calculated from the first-order rate constants in the temperature range 294–323?K. The kinetic parameters are in agreement with a two-step mechanism with dissociation of acetonitrile as the rate-determining step. The molecular structures of Ru₂Cl(μ-Cl)₃(cod)₂(NCR)] (R?=?Me, Ph) have been determined by X-ray diffraction.