Arene Derivatives of Bis(trichlorogermanium)tetracarbonylruthenium(II)

Abstract

Arenes react with trans-Ru(CO)4(GeCl3)2 at 150 °C or higher to form the very stable complexes (η-arene)Ru(CO)(GeCl3)2 (arene = benzene, toluene, o-, m-, and p-xylene, mesitylene). The reactions may proceed via the more reactive cis-isomer, as suggested by a study of the reaction of benzene with trans-Ru(CO)4(SiCl3)2 at 80 °C to form (η-C6H6)Ru(CO)-(SiCl3)2. Benzene is displaced from (η-C6H6)Ru(CO)(GeCl3)2 by CO or mesitylene forming trans-Ru(CO)4(GeCl3)2 and (η-mesitylene)Ru(CO)(GeCl3)2, respectively.