Hyponitrite complexes: Crystal and molecular structure of [Ru2(CO)4(μ-PtBu2)(μ-Ph2PCH2PPh2)(μ-η2-ONNOMe)]

The new trans-hyponitrite derivative complex [Ru2(CO)4(μ-PtBu2)(μ-dppm)(μ-η2-ONNOMe)] (2, dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2) was prepared by deprotonation of [Ru2(CO)4(μ-H)(μ-PtBu2)(μ-dppm)(μ-η2-ONNOMe)][BF4] (1) with the base DBU (1.8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene). The latter complex salt has been obtained in an improved synthesis starting from the trans-hyponitrite complex [Ru2(CO)4(μ-H)(μ-PtBu2)(μ-dppm)(μ-η2-ONNO)]. Compound 2 has been characterized by spectroscopic methods as well as by X-ray diffraction and represents the first neutral complex bearing a deprotonated monoester of the hyponitrous acid as the bridging ligand.