Alkane activation on a multimetallic site

Abstract

Trinuclear polyhydrido complex of ruthenium effectively activates alkanes to cleave C-H bonds in a selective manner due to cooperative action of the metal centers. The reaction of (Cp´Ru) 3 (m-H) 3 (m3 -H) 2 (1) (Cp´ = h5-C5Me5) with n-alkane at 170 °C leads to the formation of a trinuclear closo-ruthenacyclopentadiene complex as a result of a successive cleavage of six C-H bonds. Introduction of a m3-sulfido ligand into the Ru3 core of the trirutheniumpolyhydrido cluster significantly modifies the regioselectivity of the alkane C-H activation. Heating of a solution of (Cp´Ru) 3 (m3-S) (m-H) 3 (4) in alkane exclusively gives a trinuclear m3-alkylidyne complex via a selective C-H bond cleavage at the less-hindered terminus of alkane molecule.