Reaction of ruthenacarborane with trifluoroacetoxymercuroferracarborane

The reaction of exo-nido-ruthenacarborane exo-nido-5,6,10-Cl(Ph₃P)₂Ru]-5,6,10-(-H)₃-10-H-7,8-C₂B₉H₈ (1) with the 8-trifluoroacetoxymercury derivative of ferracarborane 3-(⁵-Cp)-4-SMe₂-8-CF₃COOHg-3,1,2-FeC₂B₉H₉ (2) was studied. It was demonstrated for the first time that metallacarborane 2 can be used as a mercurating agent. The reaction afforded 5",6",10"-exo-nido-Cl(Ph₃P)₂Ru]-5",6",10"-(-H)₃-10"-{3-(⁵-Cp)-4-SMe₂-3,1,2-FeC₂B₉H₉-8-Hg}-7",8"-C₂B₉H₈ (3) existing as two isomers. The structure of trans isomer 3a was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.