Selectivity in alkynylation: the reaction between Ru2(LL)4Cl and Me3SnCCR (LL=2-anilinopyridine, 2-chloro- and 2-bromo-oxypyridine)

The reaction via a Pd(II)/CuI catalyst of phenylethynyl(trimethyl)stannane (Me3SnCCPh) with Ru2(chp)4Cl, Ru2(bhp)4Cl and Ru2(ap)4Cl gave the organometallic terminal alkynes Ru2(chp)4CCPh (1), Ru2(bhp)4CCPh (2) and Ru2(ap)4CCPh (3), respectively in 80–85% yields, without an attack on other functionalities.