Cluster chemistry: XXXIII. Reactions of [{Au(PPh3)}3O]+ with [Ru3(μ3-C2But)(CO)9]−: X-ray structure of [Ru3Au2(μ3-CCHBut)(CO)9(PPh3)2], containing a t-butylvinylidene ligand attached to a trigonal-bipyramidal Ru3Au2 core

Deprotonation (K[HBBu₃^s]) of HRu₃(μ₃-C₂Bu^t)(CO)₉, followed by reaction of the anion with [O{Au(PPh₃)}₃][BF₄], afforded the known complex Ru₃Au(μ₃-C₂Bu^t)(CO)₉ (9%), the vinylidene cluster Ru₃Au₂(μ₃-CCHBu^t)(CO)₉(PPh₃)₂ (16%) and the hexanuclear Ru₃Au₃(C₂Bu^t)(CO)₈(PPh₃)₃ (3%). The X-ray structure of the pentanuclear complex shows an asymmetric trigonal-bipyramidal Ru₃Au₂ core (Ru, Au at the apices) with the Ru₃ face bridged by a t-butylvinylidene ligand, being σ-bonded to Ru(1) and Ru(3), and η²-coordinated to Ru(2). Crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n with a 19.121(3), b 13.109(3), c 23.649(4) Å, β 106.76(2)° and Z = 4. The structure was solved using 4405 observed diffractometer data, and refined to R 0.044, R_w 0.047.