Selected properties of bi- and trinuclear complexes prepared by the reactions of Ru3(CO)12 with β-substituted oxadienes

The reactions of Ru₃(CO)₁₂with 4-phenylbut-3-an-2-ine (1a), 3-phenyl-1-p-tolylprop-2-an-1-ine (1b), and 1,3-diferrocenylprop-2-an-1-ine (1c) afforded the Ru₂(CO)₆(-H)(O=C(R¹)C(H)=C(R²)) (2) and Ru₃(CO)₈(O=C(R¹)C(H)=C(R²))₂(3) complexes. Dissolution of these complexes in CHCl₃or CH₂Cl₂gave rise to the Ru₂(CO)₄(-Cl)₂(O=C(R¹)C(H)=C(R²)) complexes (4). The thermal transformations of complexes 2and 3in the presence of an excess of the ligand yielded the Ru₂O₂(CO)₄(³-OC(R¹)C(H)(CH₂R²)C(R²)C(H)C(R¹))₂(5) and Ru(CO)₂(O=C(R¹)C(H)=C(R²))₂(6) complexes. Analogous complexes were obtained upon more prolonged heating of the starting reaction mixtures. The structures of complexes 4a, 5a, and 6cwere established by X-ray diffraction analysis and confirmed by spectroscopic data.     

Synthesis and structures of fulvene-bridged diruthenium complexes

Three diruthenium carbonyl complexes, namely (η ³:η ⁵-C₅H₄C(CH₂)₂)Ru₂(CO)₅ (1), (η ³:η ⁵-C₅H₄C(CHCH₂)(C₂H₅))Ru₂(CO)₅ (2), and (η ¹:η ⁵-C₅H₄C₅H₈)Ru₂(CO)₆ (3), were obtained from the reactions of C₅H₄C(Me)₂, C₅H₄C(Et)₂, and C₅H₄C(CH₂)₄, respectively, with Ru₃(CO)₁₂ in refluxing xylene. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectra. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis for complexes 1 and 2 revealed that the fulvene ligands bridge two ruthenium atoms in η ³:η ⁵ fashion.     

Formation and structure of diruthenium complexes Ru2(CO)6−n (PPh3) n {μ-C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)} (n=1, 2)

Ruthenium carbonyl triphenylphosphine complexes Ru₂(CO)_6−n (PPh₃) _n {μ-C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)} (n=1, 2) were obtained by the reaction of complex Ru₂(CO)₆{μ-C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)} containing the ruthenacyclopentadiene moiety with PPh₃ in refluxing toluene. The complexes were characterized by IR and by¹H,¹³C, and³¹P NMR spectroscopy, and by X-ray analysis. The monophosphine derivative is identical to the complex formed by fragmentation of the Ru₃(CO)₈(PPh₃){μ-C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)} cluster and contains the PPh₃ ligand at the ruthenium atom of the ruthenacyclopentadiene moiety. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1836–1843, September, 1998     

Synthesis and characterization of the [Ru(η5-C5Me4CF3)(CO)2]2 and Ru6(μ3-H)(η2-μ4-CO)2(μ-CO)(CO)12(η5-C5Me4CF3) complexes

The reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with tetramethyltrifluoromethylcyclopentadiene at various ratios of the reagents was studied. Refluxing of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with a sixfold excess of tetramethyltrifluoromethylcyclopentadiene in octane in an inert atmosphere gave a complex, which is, according to X-ray diffraction data, a dimer,trans-[Ru(η⁵-C₅Me₄CF₃)(CO)₂]₂. The reaction under the same conditions but starting from Ru₃(CO)₁₂ and C₅Me₄CF₃H in 2∶1 molar ratio gave a hexaruthenium cluster [Ru₆(μ₃-H)(η₂-μ₄-CO)₂(μ-CO)(Co)₁₂(η⁵-C₅Me₄CF₂)], which was characterized by IR as well as¹H,¹³C, and¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. According to X-ray diffraction data, an Ru₄ tetrahedron, in which two edges are bound by additional “briding” Ru atoms, constitutes the frame of this compound. This complex has one (η⁵-C₅Me₄CF₃) ligand, as well as one (μ₃-H) and two (η²-μ₄-CO) groups. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 507–512, March, 1998.     

Allyl isomerization mediated by cyclopentadienyl ruthenium carbonyl compounds

Three new diruthenium complexes, namely (η ⁵-C₅H₄C(CH₂)₄CH=CHCH₃)₂Ru₂(CO)₂(μ-CO)₂ (1), (η ⁵-C₅H₄CEt₂CH=CHCH₃)₂Ru₂(CO)₂(μ-CO)₂ (2), and (η ⁵-C₅Me₄CH=CHCH₃)₂Ru₂(CO)₂(μ-CO)₂ (3), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H-NMR spectra. The crystal structures of complexes 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and showed that the allyl reagents used in their synthesis underwent isomerization to give the corresponding methyl–vinyl complexes. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes 1 and 2 confirm the presence of both bridging and terminal CO groups. A possible mechanism for the observed alkene isomerizations is discussed.     

Gold(III)pentafluorophenylarylazoimidazole: Synthesis and spectral (H, C, COSY, HMQC NMR) characterisation

Reaction of [Au^III(C₆F₅)₃(tht)] with RaaiR′ in dichloromethane medium leads to [Au^III(C₆F₅)₃ (RaaiR′)] [RaaiR′=p-R-C₆H₄-N=N-C₃H₂-NN-l-R′, (1-3), R = H (a), Me (b), Cl (c) and R′= Me (1), CH₂CH₃ (2), CH₂Ph (3), tht is tetrahydrothiophen]. The nine new complexes are characterised by ES/MS as well as FAB, IR and multinuclear NMR (¹H,¹³C,¹⁹F) spectroscopic studies. In addition to dimensional NMR studies as¹H,¹H COSY and¹H¹³C HMQC permit complete assignment of the complexes in the solution phase.     

Reduction of bis[(2-phosphinoethyl)tetramethyl-cyclopentadienyl]zirconium dichlorides: intramolecular C-H activation <Emphasis Type="Italic">vs.</Emphasis> stabilization of the low-valence metal center

Reduction of the R₂P-functionalized zirconocene dichlorides [C₅Me₄(CH₂)₂PR₂] (C₅Me₅)ZrCl₂ (R = Me (1) and Ph (2)) and [C₅Me₄(CH₂)₂PMe₂][C₅Me₄(CH₂)₂PR₂]ZrCl₂ (R = Me (3) and Ph (4)) with amalgamated magnesium was studied. In the reduction of compounds 1 and 2, intramolecular C-H activation highly selectively afforded the fulvene hydride complexes Zr(H)(η⁵−C₅Me₅)[η⁵:η²(C,P)−(CH₂)C₅Me₃CH₂CH₂PR₂] (R = Me (7), Ph (8)); in the case of compound 2, the aryl hydride Zr(H)(η₅:C₅Me₅)[η⁵:η¹(C)−C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PPh(o−C₆H₄)] (9) was also formed. The reduction of complexes 3 and 4 gave the Zr^II derivatives Zr[η⁵:η¹(P)− C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂]₂ (12) and Zr[η⁵:η₁(P)−C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂][η⁵:η¹(P)−C₅Me₄CH₂ CH₂PPh₂] (14) stabilized by two phosphine groups. The second product in the reduction of compound 4 was the fulvene hydride complex Zr(H)(η⁵−C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PPh₂)[η⁵:η²(C,P)−(CH₂)C₅Me₃CH₂CH₂PMe₂] (15). The reaction of compound 7 with an excess of MeI resulted selectively in replacement of the hydride ligand by iodide to give the complex ZrI(η⁵−C₅Me₅)[η⁵:η²(C,P)−(CH₂)C₅Me₃CH₂CH₂PMe₂] (10). In contrast, in the reaction of compound 7 with Me₂Si(H)Cl, the Zr-CH₂ bond underwent cleavage to give the chloride hydride complex Zr(H)Cl(η₅−C₅Me₅)[η⁵:η¹(P)−C₅Me₃(CH₂SiMe₂H)CH₂CH₂PMe₂] (11). In the reaction of complex 12 with CO, a phosphine group was replaced by CO to form the complex Zr(CO)(η5−C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂)[η⁵:η¹(P)−C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂] (13). The results obtained were compared with analogous reduction reactions of MeO-, MeS-, and Me₂N-functionalized zirconocene dichlorides. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 65–74, January, 2008.     

Pyrazolate-bridged binuclear zinc complexes Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>(μ-dmpz)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(Hdmpz)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(OOCR)<Subscript>2</Subscript> (R = Me,Ph; Hdmpz = 3,5-dimethylpyrazole)

Triethylamine reacts with aqueous zinc acetate and the product of its thermolysis in the presence of benzoic acid to yield the complexes [Zn₇(μ₄-O)(μ-OOCMe)₁₀][η-OC(Me)OHNEt₃]₂ (1) and [Zn₂(μOOCPh)₄][η-OC(Me)OHNEt₃]₂ (2), respectively. The reactions of 1 and 2 with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole at room temperature in benzene yield pyrazolate-bridged binuclear complexes Zn₂(μdmpz)₂(Hdmpz)₂(OOCR)₂ (R = Me (3), Ph (4)). The structures of complexes 1–4 have been determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Triruthenium complexes obtained in the thermal reaction of Ru<Subscript>3</Subscript>(CO)<Subscript>12</Subscript> with dibenzylideneacetone

The complexes Ru₂(CO)₆(μ-H)(O=C(CH=CHPh)C(H)=CPh) (5), Ru₃(CO)₈-(O=C(CH=CHPh)C(H)=CPh)₂ (6), and Ru₃(CO)₇(O=C(CH=CPh)C(H)=CPh)-(O=C(CH₂-CH₂Ph)C(H)=CPh) (7) were obtained in the reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with dibenzylideneacetone PhCH=CHCOCH=CHPh. The structures of complexes 5 and 6 were established by NMR and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structure of complex 7 was established by X-ray diffraction. The structural and spectroscopic features of the complexes, as well as their possible formation and interconversion pathways are discussed.     

Synthesis and structures of bridged biscyclopentadienyl diiron complexes

Three diiron carbonyl complexes, namely [(η ⁵-C₅H₄)(η ³-C(CH₂)₂)]Fe₂(CO)₅ (1), [(C₂H₅)₂C(η ⁵-C₅H₄)₂]Fe₂(μ-CO)₂(CO)₂ (2), and [(CH₂)₄C(η ⁵-C₅H₄)(η ⁵-C₅H₃)(C₅H₉)]Fe₂(μ-CO)₂(CO)₂ (3), have been synthesized by the reactions of C₅H₄C(Me)₂, C₅H₄C(Et)₂, and C₅H₄C(CH₂)₄, respectively, with Fe(CO)₅ in refluxing xylene. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and ¹H NMR spectra. The molecular structures of the complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures of the complexes indicate that fulvenes can be bound to transition metal centers by diverse modes.     

Routes to Higher Nuclearity Mixed-Metal Carbonyl Clusters Using the [Rh(η<Superscript>5</Superscript>-C<Subscript>5</Subscript>Me<Subscript>5</Subscript>)(NCMe)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Dication as a Building Block

Reaction of the [Rh(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(NCMe)₃]²⁺ (1) dication with the hexaosmium [Os₆(CO)₁₇]²⁻ (2) dianion leads to the initial formation of [Os₆(CO)₁₇Rh(η⁵-C₅Me₅)] (3). This cluster readily adds CO to form [Os₆(CO)₁₈Rh(η⁵-C₅Me₅)] (4) which has been characterised crystallographically. 3 also adds dihydrogen to give [Os₆H₂(CO)₁₇Rh(η⁵-C₅Me₅)] (5) and undergoes a substitution reaction with PPh₃ to form [Os₆(CO)₁₆(PPh₃)Rh(η⁵-C₅Me₅)] (6). With the [Ru₆(CO)₁₈]²⁻ (7) dianion, [Rh(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(NCMe)₃]²⁺ (1) reacts to form three mixed-metal clusters [Ru₅(CO)₁₅Rh(η⁵-C₅Me₅)] (8), [Ru₆(CO)₁₈Rh(η⁵-C₅Me₅)] (9) and [Ru₆(CO)₁₈Rh₂(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂] (10). The clusters have been characterised spectroscopically and the structures of 8 and 10 have been confirmed crystallographically. The cluster 8 undergoes a substitution reaction with P(OMe)₃ to form the disubstituted product [Ru₅(CO)₁₃(P(OMe)₃)₂Rh((η⁵-C₅Me₅)] (11) which has also been characterised crystallographically.     

Ruthenium Tris-pyrazolylborate Complexes XVII [1]. Structure and Bonding in a Series of Ruthenium Hydrido-tris-(pyrazolyl)-borate Cyclooctadiene Complexes

Summary.  The complexes RuTp(cod)X (X = Br⁻ (2), I⁻ (3), CN⁻ (4)) have been obtained by the reaction of RuTp(cod)Cl (1) with KX in boiling MeOH in high yields. The cationic complexes [RuTp(cod)(py)]⁺ (5), [RuTp(cod)(dmso)]⁺ (6), and [RuTp(cod)(CH₃CN)]⁺ (7) were prepared as the CF₃SO₃ ⁻ salts by reacting 1 with 1 equivalent of AgCF₃SO₃ in the presence of the respective co-ligand in CH₂Cl₂. The crystal structures of 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are reported. Structural features are discussed in conjunction with ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopic data revealing a linear correlation of ¹⁵N chemical shifts and Ru-N (trans to X(L)) bond distances. Received August 31, 2000. Accepted (revised) October 23, 2000     

Synthesis and molecular structures of the cobalt complexes (η4-C4Me4)Co(CO)2SnCl3, (η4-C4Me4)Co(CO)2(TeI2Ph), and (η4-C4Me4)Co(CO)2 (TeBrIPh) with the shortened Co-Sn and Co-Te bonds

The complex (η⁴-C₄Me₄)Co(CO)₂I (I) reacted with excess SnCl₂ in boiling THF to give, through replacement of the iodide ligand by the fragment SnCl₃, the mononuclear complex (η⁴-C₄Me₄)Co(CO)₂SnCl₃ (II) containing the Co-Sn bond (2.459(1) ?). In a reaction of complex I with phenyltellurenyl halides PhTeI and PhTeBr, an analogous insertion into the cobalt-iodine bond yielded (η⁻C₄Me₄)Co(CO)₂(TeI₂Ph) (III) and (η⁴-C₄Me₄)Co(CO)₂(TeBrIPh) (IV), respectively. This type of coordination of the aryltellurenyl halide fragment to the transition metal atom was observed for the first time. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a substantial shortening of the formally single Co-Sn and Co-Te bonds in complexes II–IV compared to the sum of the covalent radii of the corresponding atoms. Original Russian Text ? Yu.V. Torubaev, A.A. Pasynskii, A.R. Galustyan, p. Mathur, 2009, published in Koordinatsionnaya Khimiya, 2009, vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 3–7.     

Synthesis and Characterizations of Ferrocenyl Carbonyl Chromium and Cobalt Clusters

Two novel bimetallic complexes, [Cr(CO)₃(η ⁶-C₆H₅)–C≡C–C₆H₄–Fc] (Fc = C₅H₅FeC₅H₄] (1) and [Cr(CO)₃(η ⁶-C₆H₅)–C ≡ C–Fc–C(CH₃)₂–Fc] (3), were synthesized by the Sonogashira coupling reaction. By using of (1) and (3) as ligands to react with Co₂(CO)₈, two others novel polymetallic complexes, [Cr(CO)₃(η ⁶-C₆H₅){Co₂(CO)₆-η ²-μ ²-C≡C–}–C₆H₄–Fc] (2) and [Cr(CO)₃(η ⁶-C₆H₅){Co₂(CO)₆-η ²-μ ²-C≡C–}Fc–C(CH₃)₂–Fc] (4) were obtained. Four carbonyl complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR and MS. The molecular structures of complexes (1), (2) and (4) were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The interactions among the ferrocenyl, Cr(CO)₃ and Co₂(CO)₆-η ²-μ ²-C≡C– units were investigated by cyclic voltammetry.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Crystal Structures of New Difurylphosphido-bridged Dinuclear Ruthenium Carbonyl Complexes Derived from Ferrocenylacetylene Ligands

The difurylphosphido-bridged dinuclear complex [Ru₂(CO)₆(μ-PFu₂)(μ-η¹,η²-Fu)] (Fu = 2-furyl) 1 readily reacts with two equivalents of each of the terminal alkynes HC≡CR (R = Fc, p-C₆H₄Fc, p-C₆H₄NO₂, Fc = Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)(η⁵-C₅H₄)) by an interesting head-to-tail ynyl coupling with a furan group to form a series of phosphido-bridged diruthenium compounds containing a novel furyl-substituted C₄ hydrocarbyl chain of stoichiometry [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ-PFu₂){μ-η¹,η¹,η²,η³-RCC(H)C(R)C(H)Fu}] (R = Fc 2, p-C₆H₄Fc 3, p-C₆H₄NO₂ 4) in moderate to good yields. Reaction of 1 with an equimolar amount of HC≡CFc and HC≡C(p-C₆H₄NO₂) afforded a pair of isomers of [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ-PFu₂){μ-η¹,η¹,η²,η³-R¹CC(H)C(R²)C(H)Fu}] (R¹ = Fc, R² = p-C₆H₄NO₂ 5a; R¹ = p-C₆H₄NO₂, R² = Fc 5b) together with a small mixture of 4. X-ray crystal structures of 2, 3, 5a and 5b are reported. All of these new alkyne-derived dinuclear complexes are electron precise with 34 cluster valence electrons in which the μ-η¹,η²-furyl ligand acts as a three-electron donor and the μ-phosphido Ru₂ framework is retained in the products upon alkyne coupling reactions. The resulting organic fragment of each complex is coordinated to the Ru atoms via a π, a π-allyl and two σ bonds, and donates seven electrons to the metal core. Dedicated to the memory of Professor F. Albert Cotton.     

Synthesis and characterization of complexes of organotin(IV) with 2-thiazoline-2-thione

The reaction of 2-thiazoline-2-thione (TZDSH) with SnR₂Cl₂ (R=Ph 1, Me 2, Bu 3) in dry ethanol in the presence of sodium ethoxide leads to [SnR₂(C₃H₄NS₂)₂] (1, 2, and 3), respectively. Reaction between TZDSH and SnPh₂Cl₂ in dichloromethane and dry ethanol in an inert atmosphere produces [SnPh₂Cl₂(C₃H₅NS₂)₂] (4). The yields of the products were over 80%. These new complexes have been characterized by IR, UV-Vis, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, and ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, as well as elemental analysis.     

Influence of the nature of ligands in iridium complexes with C60 fullerene and ·P(O)(OPri)2, ·CMe3, and ·CCl3 radicals on regioselectivity of addition and stability of spin-adducts formed: an EPR study

The addition of ^·P(O)(OPrⁱ)₂ (R¹), ^·CMe₃ (R²), and ^·CCl₃ (R³) radicals to metallofullerenes (η²-C₆₀)IrH(CO)(CNBu^t)₂(o-HCB₁₀H₉CCH₂PPh₂-B,P) (1), (η²-C₆₀)IrH(CO)(DIOP) (DIOP is (4R,5R)-(+)-4,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane, 2), and (η²-C₆₀)IrH(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (3) was studied by EPR spectroscopy. A stability study of spin adducts (SAs) of R¹ radicals with complexes 1 and 2 showed that when the reactions are initiated by illumination with 366-nm light, the EPR spectra exhibit only signals of those isomers that are formed upon attack of the R¹ radicals on the carbon atoms of the cis-1 and cis-2 bonds (i.e., carbon atoms of the fullerene hemisphere to which the metallofragment is attached). Investigations of the reactions of R² and R³ radicals with complexes 1–3 initiated with 366-nm light made it possible to detect (i) regioisomers formed by adding these radicals to carbon atoms of the cis-n bonds and (ii) SAs formed by adding the radicals to carbon atoms of other bonds in complexes 1–3. The hyperfine structure of the EPR spectrum essentially depends on the spatial structure of substituents at the metal atom and allows individual regioisomers of not only phosphoryl radicals, but also carbon-centered radicals R² and R³ with metallofullerenes 1–3 to be identified. The rate constants for addition of R² and R³ radicals to complexes 2 and 3 were determined. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1302–1309, July, 2007.     

Reaction of Os3(μ-Cl)2(CO)10 with Ph2PCH2PPh2. The formation of a novel 12-membered macrocycle containing C, P, Cl, and Os atoms in the ring

The reaction of Os₃(μ-Cl)₂(CO)₁₀ (1) with Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂ (dppm) in a toluene solution at 65°C results in novel osmium complexes [Os₃(μ-Cl)₂(CO)₉]₂(dppm) (2) and [Os₃(μ-Cl)₂(CO)₈]₂(dppm)₂ (3). Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by¹H and³¹P NMR, and IR spectroscopy and their structures were established by X-ray analysis. In both compounds, dppm is a bridging ligand between the two cluster units. Molecule3 can be considered as an unusual 12-membered macrocycle containing C, P, Cl, and Os atoms in the ring. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1844–1851, September, 1998.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of some new metal carbonyl derivatives of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol

Interaction of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) with [Mo(CO)₆] in air resulted in formation of the tricarbonyl oxo-complex [Mo(O)(CO)₃(PAN)], 1. The dicarbonyl complex [Ru(CO)₂(PAN)], 3, was obtained from the reaction of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with PAN. In presence of triphenyl phosphine (PPh₃), the reaction of PAN with either Mo(CO)₆ or Ru₃(CO)₁₂ gave [Mo(CO)₃(PAN)(PPh₃)], 2, and [Ru(CO)₂(PAN)(PPh₃)], 4. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. The thermal properties of the complexes were also investigated by thermogravimetry.     

Metal Cluster Terminated “Molecular Wires”

The gold complexes Au(C≡CC₆H₄C≡CC₆H₄Me)(PPh₃) (3) and {Au(PPh₃)}₂(μ-C≡CC₆H₄C≡CC₆H₄C≡CC₆H₄C≡C) (6), prepared from the reaction of AuCl(PPh₃) with the corresponding terminal or trimethylsilyl protected alkynes, react readily with Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ-dppm) to afford phenylene ethynylene derivatives featuring the Ru₃(μ-AuPPh₃)(μ-C₂R)(CO)₇ cluster “end-caps”. The hydrido cluster Ru₃(μ-H)(μ-C₂C₆H₄C≡CC₆H₄Me)(CO)₇ (4a) has also been obtained. There are significant differences in the absorption spectra of the organic precursors, the gold complexes and the clusters indicate a mixing of electronic states between the cluster and phenylene ethynylene moieties, while the presence of the Ru₃ and in particular Ru₃(μ-AuPPh₃) cluster end-caps leads to a quenching of the phenylene ethynylene centred emission. The crystallographically determined structures of 3, 4a and Ru₃(μ-AuPPh₃) (μ-C₂C₆H₄C≡CC₆H₄Me)(CO)₇ (4b) are reported.Dedicated to Professor B.F.G. Johnson, one of the pioneers of cluster chemistry, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field.