Reaction of a bulky phosphite with [Ru3(CO)12]: The molecular structure of one of the decomposition products

Mono- and bis-substituted phosphite complexes [Ru3(CO)12−x Lx] (L = tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite; x = 1, 2) were synthesized by simple substitution reactions, and were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The monosubstituted ruthenium complex disproportionates in acetone producing a mononuclear ruthenium complex as one of the decomposition products. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis established the molecular structure of this new compound.