Ligand substitution of FeRu2(CO)12 and Fe2Ru(CO)12 with tertiary phosphines and phosphites

Ligand substitution of the mixed-metal clusters FeRu₂(CO)₁₂ and Fe₂Ru(CO)₁₂ with triphenylphosphine and trimethylphosphite has been studied. Mono- and di-substituted derivatives have been synthesized and characterized structurally. The following crystal and molecular structures are reported: Fe₂Ru(CO)₁₁PPh₃: triclinic, space group P$\text{1}$, a 9.203(2), b 11.903(3), c 15.117(4) Å, α 81.54(2), β 87.28(2), γ 66.72(2)°, Z = 2; Fe₂Ru(CO)₁₁P(OMe)₃: orthorhombic, space group Pna2₁, a 17.220(5), b 14.572(4), c 8.708(6) Å, Z = 4, FeRu₂(CO)₁₁PPh₃: monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a 11.435(3), b 16.034(5), c 16.642(4) Å, β 93.35(2)°, Z = 4; FeRu₂(CO)₁₀(PPh₃)₂: orthorhombic, space group Pccm, a 14.854(4), b 17.180(7), c 16.786(12) Å, Z = 4.Ligand substitution is found to occur preferentially at the ruthenium centers of the FeRu₂ and Fe₂Ru clusters. Monosubstitution causes expansion of both of the clusters while the overall geometry is practically unchanged. Disubstitution of FeRu₂(CO)₁₂ causes contraction of the cluster and leads to a formation of carbonyl bridges. The structural trends have been interpreted in terms of electronic and packing effects of ligand substitution. The X-ray structures of Fe₂Ru(CO)₁₂ and FeRu₂(CO)₁₂ are not known; the ligand substitution studies indicate that Fe₂Ru(CO)₁₂ has the same structure as Fe₃(CO)₁₂, and that FeRu₃(CO)₁₂ does not have a Ru₃(CO)₁₂ structure as postulated previously from the IR studies.