Some chemistry of trans-Ru(CCCCH)2(dppe)2: Syntheses of bi- and tri-metallic derivatives and cycloaddition of tcne

Conventional reactions of trans-Ru(CCCCH)2(dppe)2 1 with RuCl(PP)Cp′ or AuCl(PPh3) have given the complexes trans-Ru(CCCCR)(CCCCR′)(dppe)2 [R = H, Ru(PP)Cp′, Au(PPh3); R′ = Ru(PP)Cp′, (PP)Cp′ = (PPh3)2Cp, (dppe)Cp, (dppe)Cp∗ (not all combinations)]. The Au(PPh3) derivatives react with Co(μ3-CBr)(μ-dppm)(CO)7 to give trans-Ru(CCCCH){CCCCC[Co3(μ-dppm)(CO)7]}(dppe)2 and trans-Ru{CCCCC[Co3(μ-dppm)(CO)7]}2(dppe)2, which contain respectively four- and five-carbon and two five-carbon chains linking the metal centres. Also described is the addition of tcne to trans-Ru(CCCCH)2(dppe)2 to give the bis(η1-tetracyanobutadienyl) complex trans-Ru{CCC[C(CN)2]CHC(CN)2}2(dppe)2 11, of which the single crystal X-ray structure is reported.