Ir(CO)Cla(Ph2Ppy)2HgClb(HgCl2)c (a,b=1, 2, c=0, 1)的Ir-Hg相互作用和氧化还原反应性质

应用密度泛函理论(DFT)的PBE0方法, 金属原子采用SDD基组, H、C、O和N原子采用6-31G*基组, P和Cl原子采用6-311G*基组, 对单核配合物Ir(CO)Cl(Ph2Ppy)2(1), 双核配合物Ir(CO)(Cl)2(Ph2Ppy)2HgCl(2)、Ir(CO)Cl(Ph2Ppy)2HgCl2(3)和Ir(CO)(Cl)2(HgCl2)(Ph2Ppy)2HgCl(4)进行结构优化, 并在优化的基础上采用基组重叠误差(BSSE)校正计算相互作用能, 通过自然键轨道(NBO)和前线轨道分析研究Ir-Hg相互作用和氧化还原反应的实质. 通过计算发现, Ir(CO)Cl(Ph2Ppy)2与HgCl2发生氧化还原反应得到的产物2和4比非氧化还原产物3稳定. Ir-Hg相互作用强度顺序为3<4<2, 且随着Ir-Hg相互作用强度增大, HOMO轨道中Ir和Hg成分逐渐趋于接近. 配合物2和4都具有一对Ir-Hg成键与反键轨道, 其成键轨道的组成分别为0.5985sd0.06Hg+0.8012sd2.48Ir和0.5794sd0.05Hg+0.8151sd2.48Ir, 但3中Ir与Hg的相互作用较弱, 只存在弱相互作用(电荷转移作用), 表现为nIr→nHg的直接作用和σIr—P(1)→nHg、σIr—C(1)→nHg的间接作用.     

配合物[Fe(CO)x(Ph2Ppy)y(HgCl2)z](x=3, 4; y=1, 2; z=0, 1, 2)的Fe-Hg相互作用及31P化学位移的理论研究

用密度泛函理论PBE0法计算配合物[Fe(CO)x(Ph2Ppy)y(HgCl2)z](1: x=4, y=1, z=0; 2: x=3, y=2, z=0; 3: x=4, y=1, z=1; 4: x=3, y=2, z=1; 5: x=4, y=1, z=2; 6: x=3, y=2, z=2)的几何构型, 用PBE0-GIAO法计算配合物1~6的31P化学位移. 计算结果表明, 含2个Ph2Ppy的配合物5和6的Fe—Hg相互作用略大于含单个Ph2Ppy的配合物3和4. 含2个HgCl2的配合物4和6存在Fe—Hg σ键, 比含单个HgCl2的配合物3和5的Fe—Hg相互作用强, 配合物3和5的Fe—Hg相互作用以Fe→Hg和Fe←Hg离域为主. 配合物3中Fe的负电荷比5的小, 故配合物5的Fe—Hg相互作用比配合物3的强且Fe→Hg离域比较显著, 而配合物3的Fe←Hg离域更显著. Fe—Hg相互作用增大了双核配合物中P核周围的电子密度, 其31P化学位移比相应的单核配合物小, 且含2个HgCl2的双核配合物的31P化学位移更小. 含单个Ph2Ppy的配合物的31P化学位移小于含2个Ph2Ppy的配合物.     

醋酸乙烯酯基桥连铁硫配合物(σ,π-μ-CH3CO2C=CH2)(μ-RS)Fe2CO)6的制备及结构鉴定

乙酰氯同Fe_3(CO)_(12),RSH,Et_3N所形成的盐[(μ-CO)(μ-RS)Fe_2(CO)_6]Et_3NH相作用,生成一类含醋酸乙烯酯基配体的桥连铁硫配合物(σ,π-μ-CH_3CO_2C=CH_2(μ-RS)Fe_2(CO)_6[R=Et,tert-Bu,Ph)。除用碳氢分析,IR,~1HNMR及X衍射技术表征这类配合物的结构和构象外,还对形成此类产物的过程进行了初步讨论。R=Ph配合物单晶的空间群为PI,晶胞参数a=7.087(3),b=8.824(2),c=15.740(3),α=76.20(1),β=88.15(2),γ=86.28(2)°,D_x=1.65g·cm~(-3),Z=2。醋酸乙烯酯基配体中带有醋酸根的硫与一个铁原子发生σ相互作用,而碳-碳双键与另一个铁原子则发生π相互作用。Fe—Fe键长为2.553(1))苯基与硫桥原子以e键相连。     

双环金属铱(Ⅲ)异腈配合物的二阶非线性光学性质

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)方法对双环金属Ir(III)异腈配合物的非线性光学(NLO)性质进行计算研究。用B3PW91(UB3PW91)(金属原子采用LANL2DZ基组,非金属原子采用6-31G*基组)方法对配合物进行几何结构优化。在优化构型基础上,采用B3PW91(UB3PW91)和B3LYP(UB3LYP)方法计算了配合物的第一超极化率(βtot),并用CAM-B3LYP(UCAM-B3LYP)(金属原子采用LANL2DZ基组,非金属原子采用6-31G**基组)方法模拟配合物的吸收光谱。结果表明,主配体的取代基(R1)和副配体的取代基(R2)对第一超极化率值贡献不大。配合物发生氧化还原反应,电荷转移方式增多,电荷转移程度增大,使βtot值显著增加,其中1a+([(C∧N)2Ir(CNR)2]+(R=CH3))发生氧化反应和还原反应的βtot值分别增大了75倍和144倍。因此,这类双环金属铱(III)异腈配合物的氧化还原反应可以有效地调节其二阶NLO性质。     

Theoretical Studies on the Cu-Cu Interaction and Stability of [Cu_a(Ph_2Ppy)_b(CH_3CN)_c]~(a+) (a=1～2,b=1～3,c=0～2)

To study the Cu-Cu interaction and stability of the title complexes,the structures of complexes [Cu(Ph2Ppy)(CH3CN)]+ 1,[Cu(Ph2Ppy)]+ 2,[Cu2(Ph2Ppy)2(CH3CN)2]2+ 3,[Cu2(Ph2Ppy)2(CH3CN)]2+ 4,[Cu2(Ph2Ppy)2]2+ 5 and [Cu2(Ph2Ppy)3(CH3CN)]2+ 6 were calculated by density functional theory PBE0 method,and the following conclusions can be drawn:(1) There is no orbital overlapping between two Cu atoms,indicating no Cu-Cu orbital interaction exists in complexes 3～6.Due to a breakdown of the closed shell configuration of Cu atoms,the weak Cu-Cu interactions result from the 3dCu → 4sCu' charge-transfer in 4～6.The Cu-Cu interaction strength follows 5 6 4,implying that there are stronger Cu-Cu interactions in the complexes with fewer CH3CN or more Ph2Ppy ligands.(2) The calculated interaction energies suggest that the coordination of Cu to Ph2Ppy is stronger than that to CH3CN.In 3～6,there are weaker interactions between Cu and CH3CN or Ph2Ppy in the complexes with more CH3CN or Ph2Ppy ligands.(3) The P-Cu and N-Cu interactions are much stronger than the Cu-Cu interaction,so we mainly attribute the stabilities of the binuclear complexes to the eight-membered rings Cu2P2N2C2.     

新型混合价态双核钴化合物Co(Ⅰ)Co(Ⅱ)(μ-Ph_2Ppy)_2(μ-CO)_2Cl_3的合成和分子结构

本文合成了新型混合价态双核钴化合物Co(Ⅰ)Co(Ⅱ)(μ-Ph_2Ppy)_2(μ-CO)_2Cl_3[Ph_2Ppy为2-(二苯基膦基)吡啶],并对其分子结构进行了测定,收集到了三维独立的衍射点3569个,晶体空间群为P2_1nb。晶胞参数a=13.32(1),b=14.31(1),c=18.94(2),Z=4。用直接法解出结构,用全矩阵最小二乘法进行结构精修,最终的R值为0.072。结构特征是:不考虑Co—Co键的情况下,一个钻原子是五配位变形三角双锥构型,形式氧化态为+1。另一个钻原子是六配位变形八面体构型,形式氧化态为+2。Co—Co键距为2.685(1)。该分子属C-(2v)点群。该分子进一步还原可得到具有w-框架结构的新混合价态化合物Co(0)Co(Ⅰ)(μ-Ph_2Ppy)_2(μ-CO)(CO)Cl。     

Pd~n-CO(n=1～7)簇模型的从头算研究

本文采用带相对论校正赝势的金属态原子基组, 对Pd~n-CO(n=1～7)簇模型进行了从头算研究。通过比较依据最低自旋态原则和金属态原则的计算结果,指出了两种原则的优缺点。总的计算结果表明, 依据金属态原则, 其结果可以更好地符合CO/Pd吸附体系的实验数据, 并认为CO/Pd吸附过程的成键作用主要是CO(5σ)→Pd(5sp)与Pd(5sp)→CO(2π^*)的σ/π授受作用。     

配合物[M(CO)3(PPh2py)2](M=Fe,Ru)异构体的理论研究

对PPh2py配合物[M(CO)3(PPh2py)2](M=Fe, Ru)的三种构型的异构体1-6进行了研究. 其中PPh2py以两个P原子与M配位形成HH构型1(Fe)和4(Ru), 以一个P和一个N原子与M配位形成HT构型2(Fe)和5(Ru), 以两个N原子与M配位形成HH’构型3(Fe)和6(Ru). 结果表明, (1) PPh2py中P原子对HOMO轨道的贡献最大, PPh2py作为电子给体时易以P原子与金属原子结合. (2)从分子能量和相互作用能数据表明, 配合物中HH构型最稳定, HH'构型最不稳定, 这与合成产物为HH构型的结果一致. (3) 键长和Wiberg键级均表明P—M键比N—M键结合力强. P、M原子间存在σ键, 而N、Fe原子间仅存在nN→n*M或nN→σ*M-P的电荷转移作用. (4) HH构型中M对HOMO的贡献最大, PPh2py向M的电荷转移最强, 使M的负电荷最大, 故HH构型最易作为电子给体以M原子与第二个金属配位形成双核配合物.     

层状金属配位聚合物[{MX2(bipy)}n](M=Ni,Cu,Hg;X=F,Cl,Br,I;)bipy=4,4'-bipyridyl)的电子结构和导电机理研究

用紧束缚(EHT)晶体轨道方法对层状金属配位聚合物[{HgX2(bipy)}(a)](X=Cl,Br;bipy=4,4'-bipyridyl)进行了能带结构计算,并利用键向量方法对这一系列聚合物能带特征和成键性质进行了讨论.研究表明,Fermi能级附近的能带主要是金属汞原子和卤素原子及氮原子之间形成的d-pσ*反键和d-pσ成键作用,这两者作用的强弱对导电性起决定作用.本文还对系列聚合物[(HgX(bipy)}n](M=Ni,Cu,Hg;X=Cl,Br;bipy=4,4'-bipyridyl)可能具有的导电机理和规律进行了探讨.     

(Ph3P)2,Co(CO)2Cl和(dppe-P,P)2CO(CO)+的分子轨道研究

本文对(PH3P)2, Co(CO)2Cl和(dppe-P,P)2CO(CO)+(dppe=Ph2CH2CH2PPh2)五配位C2O对称性模型化合物进行了分轨道研究, 结果表明, 钴的3d轨道很少参与成键, 钴的4s, 4P与配体的S,P轨道通过形式上的二电子三中心键和二电子二中心键的相互作用构成五配位, 此外, 还解释了这两种化合物不同稳定性的原因。     

Theoretical Studies on the M-M Bonding in Complexes [M2Cl4L2] and [M2Cl7L]- （M = Mo, Re; L = Ph2Ppy, （Ph2P）2py）

The structures of complexes [MⅡ2Cl4L2] and [MⅢ2Cl7L]- (M = Mo, Re; L = Ph2Ppy, (Ph2P)2py) were calculated by using density functional theory (DFT) PBE0 method. Based on the optimized geometries, the natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses were carried out to study the nature of Re-Re and Mo-Mo bonds. The conclusions are as follows: the M-M distances in two-Ph2Ppy or (Ph2P)2py complexes [MⅡ2Cl4L2] are shorter than those in mono-Ph2Ppy or (Ph2P)2py complexes [MⅢ2Cl7L]- due to the double bridged N-C-P interactions. For singlet of all complexes, there is ReⅢ-ReⅢ or MoⅡ-MoⅡ quadruply bond in complex [Re2Cl7L]- or [Mo2Cl4L2], while only ReⅡ-ReⅡ or MoⅢ-MoⅢ triply bond in complex [Re2Cl4L2] or [Mo2Cl7L]-. The most stable spin state of 2 and 6, triplet, only contains triple ReⅢ-ReⅢ bond. Because the LPCl → BD*Re-Re delocalizations weaken the Re-Re bond, the distance of ReⅢ-ReⅢ quadruple bonds in [Re2Cl7L]- is slightly longer than that of ReⅡ-ReⅡ triple bonds in [Re2Cl4L2]. Moreover, due to the delocalizations from the lone pair electrons of the remaining P' atom to the M-M antibonding orbitals, the M-M distance in (Ph2P)2py complexes is slightly longer than that in Ph2Ppy complexes.     

Quantum Chemistry Studies on the Fe-Cu Interactions and 31p NMR in Fe（CO）3（Ph2Ppy）2（CuXn） （Xn = Cl2^2-, Cl-, Br-）

In order to study the Fe-Cu interactions and their effects on 31p NMR, the structures of mononuclear complex Fe（CO）3fPhzPpy）a 1 and binuclear complexes Fe（CO）3（PhEPpy）z（CuXn） （2： Xn = Cl2^2-, 3： Xn = Cl-, 4： Xn = Br-） are calculated by density functional theory （DFT） PBE0 method. For complexes 1, 3 and 4, the 31p NMR chemical shifts calculated by PBE0-GIAO method are in good agreement with experimental results. The 31p chemical shift is 82.10 ppm in the designed complex 2. The Fe-Cu interactions （including Fe→Cu and Fe←Cu charge transfer） mainly exhibit the indirect interactions. Moreover, the Fe-Cu（I） interactions （mostly acting as σFe-p→4Scu and aFe-C→4Scu charge transfer） in complexes 3 and 4 are stronger than Fe-Cu（Ⅱ） interactions （mostly acting as σFe-p→4Scu and σFe-p←4Sc,） in complex 2. In complex 2, the stronger Fe←Cu interac- tions, acting as σFe-p←44SCu charge transfer, increase the electron density on P nucleus, which causes the upfield 31p chemical shift compared with mononuclear complex 1. For 3 and 4, although a little deshielding for P nucleus is derived from the delocalization of σFe-p→4Scu due to the Fe→Cu interactions, the stronger σFe-c→np charge-transfer finally increases the electron density on P nucleus. As a result, an upfield 31p chemical shift is observed compared with 1. The stability follows the order of 2〉3=4, indicating that Fe（CO）3（PhzPpy）2（CuCl2） is stable and could be synthesized experimentally. The N-Cu（Ⅱ） interaction plays an important role in the stability of 2. Because the delocalization of σFe-p→4SCu and σFe-c→πc-o weakens the a bonds of Fe-C and ~r bonds of CO, it is favorable for increasing the catalytic activity of binuclear complexes. Complexes 3 and 4 are expected to show higher catalytic activity compared to 2.     

Synthesis and properties of Rh(I) and Ir(I) distibine complexes with organometallic co-ligands

The first series of Rh(I) distibine complexes with organometallic co-ligands is described, including the five-coordinate [Rh(cod)(distibine)Cl], the 16-electron planar cations [Rh(cod)(distibine)]BF4 and [Rh{Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}2]BF4 and the five-coordinate [Rh(CO)(distibine)2][Rh(CO)2Cl2] (distibine=R2Sb(CH2)3SbR2, R=Ph or Me, and o-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2). The corresponding Ir(I) species [Ir(cod)(distibine)]BF4 and [Ir{Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}2]BF4 have also been prepared. The complexes have been characterised by 1H and 13C{1H} NMR and IR spectroscopy, electrospray mass spectrometry and microanalysis. The crystal structure of the anion exchanged [Rh(CO){Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}2]PF(6).3/4CH2Cl2 is also described. The methyl-substituted distibine complexes are less stable than the complexes of Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2, with C-Sb fission occurring in some of the complexes of the former. The salts [Rh(CO){Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}2]PF6 and [Rh{Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}2]BF4 undergo oxidative addition with Br2 to give the known [RhBr2{Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}2]+, while using HCl gives the same hydride complex from both precursors, which is tentatively assigned as [RhHCl2{Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}]. An unexpected further Rh(III) product from this reaction, trans-[RhCl2{Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}{PhClSb(CH2)3SbClPh}]Cl, was identified by a crystal structure analysis and represents the first structurally characterised example of a chlorostibine coordinated to a metal. [Rh{Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}2]BF4 reacts with CO to give [Rh(CO){Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}2]BF4 initially, and upon further exposure this species undergoes further reversible carbonylation to give a cis-dicarbonyl species thought to be [Rh(CO)2{Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}{kappa1Sb-Ph2Sb(CH2)3SbPh2}]BF4 which converts back to the monocarbonyl complex when the CO atmosphere is replaced with N2.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of [kappa3-B,S,S-B(mimR)3]Ir(CO)(PPh3)H (R = Bu(t), Ph) and [kappa4-B(mim(Bu(t))3]M(PPh3)Cl (M = Rh, Ir): analysis of the bonding in metal borane compounds

A series of iridium and rhodium complexes that feature M-->B dative bonds, namely [kappa(3)-B,S,S-B(mim(R))3]Ir(CO)(PPh3)H (R = But, Ph) and [kappa4-B(mim(Bu)t)3]M(PPh3)Cl (M = Rh, Ir), has been synthesized via (i) the reactions of Ir(PPh3)2(CO)Cl with [Tm(Bu)t]Tl and [Tm(Ph)]Li and (ii) the reactions of (COD)M(PPh3)Cl with [Tm(Bu)t]K. The complexes have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction, thereby demonstrating the presence of a M-->B dative bond in each complex. The nature of the M-->B interaction in these complexes has been addressed by computational methods which indicate that the metal centers possess a d(6) configuration. The d(6) configuration is in accord with the value predicted by using a method that employs the valence to determine d(n)(), but is not in accord with the d8 configuration that is predicted using the oxidation number. Thus, even though B(mim(R))3 may be regarded as a neutral closed-shell ligand, coordination to a d(n) transition metal via the boron results in the formation of a complex in which the metal center possesses a d(n-2) configuration.     

[Ir(COD)(diphos)Cl配合物活化sp^3 C-H键及其促进CO、CO2插入Ir-C键反应性能的研究

本文利用[Ir(COD)(μ-Cl)]2与双膦螯合配位体之间的反应合成了三个新的配合物[Ir(COD)(diphos)]Cl(diphos=dmpe、depe、dppe),用IR、NMR、电导和元素分析测定了结构.以CH3CN为反应底物分别考察了它们活化sp^3C-H键的能力及其反应规律.在此基础上进一步研究了使CO、CO2插入生成的Ir-CH2CN键的可能性.结果表明:在温和条件下进行这一插入反应是可能的,并用光谱方法证实有相应的含羰基、羧基的金属配合物的生成.     

Synthesis and reactivity of Ir(I) and Ir(III) complexes with MeNH2, Me2C=NR (R = H, Me), C,N-C6H4{C(Me)=N(Me)}-2, and N,N'-RN=C(Me)CH2C(Me2)NHR (R = H, Me) ligands

Complexes [Ir(Cp*)Cl(n)(NH2Me)(3-n)]X(m) (n = 2, m = 0 (1), n = 1, m = 1, X = Cl (2a), n = 0, m = 2, X = OTf (3)) are obtained by reacting [Ir(Cp*)Cl(mu-Cl)]2 with MeNH2 (1:2 or 1:8) or with [Ag(NH2Me)2]OTf (1:4), respectively. Complex 2b (n = 1, m = 1, X = ClO 4) is obtained from 2a and NaClO4 x H2O. The reaction of 3 with MeC(O)Ph at 80 degrees C gives [Ir(Cp*){C,N-C6H4{C(Me)=N(Me)}-2}(NH2Me)]OTf (4), which in turn reacts with RNC to give [Ir(Cp*){C,N-C6H4{C(Me)=N(Me)}-2}(CNR)]OTf (R = (t)Bu (5), Xy (6)). [Ir(mu-Cl)(COD)]2 reacts with [Ag{N(R)=CMe2}2]X (1:2) to give [Ir{N(R)=CMe2}2(COD)]X (R = H, X = ClO4 (7); R = Me, X = OTf (8)). Complexes [Ir(CO)2(NH=CMe2)2]ClO4 (9) and [IrCl{N(R)=CMe2}(COD)] (R = H (10), Me (11)) are obtained from the appropriate [Ir{N(R)=CMe2}2(COD)]X and CO or Me4NCl, respectively. [Ir(Cp*)Cl(mu-Cl)]2 reacts with [Au(NH=CMe2)(PPh3)]ClO4 (1:2) to give [Ir(Cp*)(mu-Cl)(NH=CMe2)]2(ClO4)2 (12) which in turn reacts with PPh 3 or Me4NCl (1:2) to give [Ir(Cp*)Cl(NH=CMe2)(PPh3)]ClO4 (13) or [Ir(Cp*)Cl2(NH=CMe2)] (14), respectively. Complex 14 hydrolyzes in a CH2Cl2/Et2O solution to give [Ir(Cp*)Cl2(NH3)] (15). The reaction of [Ir(Cp*)Cl(mu-Cl)]2 with [Ag(NH=CMe2)2]ClO4 (1:4) gives [Ir(Cp*)(NH=CMe2)3](ClO4)2 (16a), which reacts with PPNCl (PPN = Ph3=P=N=PPh3) under different reaction conditions to give [Ir(Cp*)(NH=CMe2)3]XY (X = Cl, Y = ClO4 (16b); X = Y = Cl (16c)). Equimolar amounts of 14 and 16a react to give [Ir(Cp*)Cl(NH=CMe2)2]ClO4 (17), which in turn reacts with PPNCl to give [Ir(Cp*)Cl(H-imam)]Cl (R-imam = N,N'-N(R)=C(Me)CH2C(Me)2NHR (18a)]. Complexes [Ir(Cp*)Cl(R-imam)]ClO4 (R = H (18b), Me (19)) are obtained from 18a and AgClO4 or by refluxing 2b in acetone for 7 h, respectively. They react with AgClO4 and the appropriate neutral ligand or with [Ag(NH=CMe2)2]ClO4 to give [Ir(Cp*)(R-imam)L](ClO4)2 (R = H, L = (t)BuNC (20), XyNC (21); R = Me, L = MeCN (22)) or [Ir(Cp*)(H-imam)(NH=CMe2)](ClO4)2 (23a), respectively. The later reacts with PPNCl to give [Ir(Cp*)(H-imam)(NH=CMe2)]Cl(ClO4) (23b). The reaction of 22 with XyNC gives [Ir(Cp*)(Me-imam)(CNXy)](ClO4)2 (24). The structures of complexes 15, 16c and 18b have been solved by X-ray diffraction methods.     

Homobinuclear cyanide-bridged linkage isomers containing the redox-active unit [(micro-XY)Ru(CO)2L(o-O2C6Cl4)] (XY=CN or NC)

The salts [NEt4][Ru(CN)(CO)2L(o-O2C6Cl4)] {L=PPh3 or P(OPh)3}, which undergo one-electron oxidation at the catecholate ligand to give neutral semiquinone complexes [Ru(CN)(CO)2L(o-O2C6Cl4)], react with the dimers [{Ru(CO)2L(micro-o-O2C6Cl4)}2] {L=PPh3 or P(OPh)3} to give [NEt4][(o-O2C6Cl4)L(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2L'(o-O2C6Cl4)] {L or L'=PPh3 or P(OPh)3}. The cyanide-bridged binuclear anions are, in turn, reversibly oxidised to isolable neutral and cationic complexes [(o-O2C6Cl4)L(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2L'(o-O2C6Cl4)] and [(o-O2C6Cl4)L(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2L'(o-O2C6Cl4)]+ which contain one and two semiquinone ligands respectively. Structural studies on the redox pair [(o-O2C6Cl4)(Ph3P)(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2(PPh3)(o-O2C6Cl4)]- and [(o-O2C6Cl4)(Ph3P)(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2(PPh3)(o-O2C6Cl4)] confirm that the C-bound Ru(CO)2(o-O2C6Cl4) fragment is oxidised first. Uniquely, [(o-O2C6Cl4){(PhO)3P}(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2(PPh3)(o-O2C6Cl4)]- is oxidised first at the N-bound fragment, indicating that it is possible to control the site of electron transfer by tuning the co-ligands. Crystallisation of [(o-O2C6Cl4)(Ph3P)(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2{P(OPh)3}(o-O2C6Cl4)] resulted in the formation of an isomer in which the P(OPh)3 ligand is cis to the cyanide bridge, contrasting with the trans arrangement of the X-Ru-L fragment in all other complexes of the type RuX(CO)2L(o-O2C6Cl4).