Unligated diruthenium(II,II) tetra(trifluoroacetate): the first X-ray structural study, thermal compressibility, Lewis acidity, and magnetism

The title compound, Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4)] (1), has been obtained without any exogenous ligands and crystallized by deposition from the gas phase at 170 degrees C. Its crystal structure has been determined for the first time to confirm an infinite chain motif built on axial Ru...O interactions of the diruthenium(II,II) units. The X-ray diffraction studies at variable temperatures showed no phase transitions in the range of 295-100 K but revealed a significant decrease in the volume per atom from 14.2 to 13.3 A(3). This noticeable thermal compressibility effect is discussed in connection with the solid-state packing of the Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4)](infinity) chains. The highly electrophilic character of the diruthenium(II,II) units has been shown by the gas-phase deposition reaction of Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4)] with an aromatic donor substrate, namely 2.2]paracyclophane (C(16)H(16)). As a result of the above reaction, a new arene adduct Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4).C(16)H(16)] (2) has been isolated in crystalline form. It has an extended one-dimensional (1D) chain structure comprised of alternating building units and based on the rare bridging mode of 2.2]paracyclophane, Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4).(mu(2)-eta(2):eta(2)-C(16)H(16))](infinity). The magnetic susceptibility of 1 and 2 has been measured and compared in the range of 1.8-300 K. In addition, in the course of synthesis of 1 by the carboxylate exchange reactions, a new mixed-carboxylate diruthenium(II,II) core complex Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(3)(O(2)CC(2)H(5))] (3), bearing no exogenous ligands, has also been isolated and structurally characterized. It exhibits an interesting polymeric structure in which the ruthenium(II) centers selectively form axial interdimer contacts with the O-atoms of the propionate groups only.