Reactions of Ru(Ctriple bond; length of mdashCPh)(PPh3)2Cp with silver(I): Molecular structure of [Ag{η2-PhC2[Ru(PPh3)2Cp]}2]PF6 and synthesis of a bis(vinylidene) complex

Treatment of Ru(Ctriple bond; length of mdashCPh)(PPh3)2Cp 1 with Ag[PF6] (2/1 molar ratio, in toluene) affords [Ag{η2-PhC2[Ru(PPh3)2Cp]}2]PF62, characterised by analysis, spectroscopy and a single-crystal X-ray structure determination. A similar reaction in CH2Cl2 (1/1 molar ratio) gives [{Cp(Ph3P)2Ru}double bond; length as m-dashCdouble bond; length as m-dashCHC6H4CPhdouble bond; length as m-dashCdouble bond; length as m-dash{Ru(PPh3)2Cp}](PF6)24 by oxidative coupling of two alkynyl-Ru radicals.