Sulphoxide complexes of ruthenium

Summary Compounds of the type RuL_4–nX_2+n where L = dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), tetramethylene sulphoxide (TMSO) and X = Cl, Br or I for n = 0 and L = di-n-propyl sulphoxide (n-Pr₂SO) and di-n-butyl sulphoxide (n-Bu₂SO) X = Cl or Br for n = 1 and also Ru(DMSO)₆Br₃ have been prepared and studied. The important i.r. bands of all compounds together with their electronic spectra and the thermograms of some of them are discussed. In order to interpret the i.r. data, the corresponding deuteriated (DMSO-d₆) analogues have also been prepared. In the majority of the compounds of the type RuL₄X₂ the sulphoxide ligands are bonded through the sulphur atom; in a few cases, bonding through both S- and O-donor sites has been found. A mixed type of bonding is also observed in Ru(DMSO)₆Br₃ and in RuL₃X₃.