Bonding modes of stanna-closo-dodecaborate: eta1(Sn) to eta3(BH) rearrangement reactions in zwitterionic stanna-closo-dodecaborate ruthenium complexes

Reaction of the stanna-closo-dodecaborate salt Bu3MeN]2SnB11H11] with the dimeric ruthenium complex Ru2(mu-Cl)3(triphos)2]Cl (triphos = {MeC(CH2PPh2)3}) in refluxing acetonitrile yields the zwitterionic compound Ru(SnB11H11)(MeCN)2(triphos)] (4) which has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Refluxing the zwitterion in acetone leads to an eta1(Sn) to eta3(BH) rearrangement with formation of Ru(SnB1)H11)(triphos)] (5) whose structure has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in solution and in the solid state. Furthermore, two isomeric zwitterions fac- and mer-Ru(SnB11H11)(dppb)(MeCN)3] (6a, 6b) and their rearrangement reactions as well as their NMR properties are described.