Synthesis and molecular structure of [Re2(μ:η6-C24H18N4)(CO)6] containing the rtct-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)cyclobutandiyl ligand, derived from the reaction of [Re2(CO)8(MeCN)2] and 1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethene

The reaction of the labile compound [Re2(CO)8(CH3CN)2] with trans-1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethene (C12H10N2) at room temperature in tetrahydrofuran affords the compounds [Re2(μ:η3-C12H10N2)(CO)8] (1) and the oxidative addition product [Re2(μ-H)(μ:η3-C12H9N2)(CO)7] (2). When the reaction is carried out at temperatures of refluxing tetrahydrofuran, besides compounds 1 and 2, the oxidative addition product [Re2(μ-H)(μ:η4-C12H9N2)(CO)6] (3), the insertion product [Re2(μ:η4-C12H10N2)(CO)8] (4) and [Re2(μ:η6-C24H18N4)(CO)6] (5) are obtained. Compound 5 contains the organic ligand rtct-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)cyclobutandiyl which is derived from a [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethene mediated by its coordination to the bimetallic framework. The molecular structures of 1, 2, 4 and 5 were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic studies.