Intramolecular Alkyne Coupling in the Reaction of 1,8-bis(phenylethynyl)naphthalene with Pt2Ru4(CO)18

The reaction of Pt₂Ru₄(CO)₁₈, 1 with 1,8-bis(phenylethynyl)naphthalene, 2 has yielded two metal carbonyl cluster complexes: Ru₂(CO)₆[-²-C₁₀H₆C₄Ph₂], 3 (60% yield) and Ru₂Pt(CO)₆[-²-C₁₀H₆C₄Ph₂]₂, 4 (8% yield). Both compounds were characterized by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both products were formed as a result of fragmentation of the Pt₂Ru₄ cluster of 1. Compound 3 contains two ruthenium atoms. They are bridged by a tricyclic C₁₀H₆C₄Ph₂ ligand formed by the coupling of the two -carbon atoms of the alkyne groups. The -carbon atoms of the alkynes are -bonded to one of the ruthenium atoms to form a metallacycle and this entire group is -bonded to the second ruthenium atom. Compound 4 contains two ruthenium atoms with a platinum atom between them. This molecule contains two tricyclic C₁₀H₆C₄Ph₂ ligands similar to that in 3, and two metallacycles formed by coordination of the -carbon atoms of both ligands to the platinum atom. One ligand is -bonded to each of the ruthenium atoms.