Triruthenium dodecacarbonyl

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Triruthenium dodecacarbonyl
IUPAC name cyclo-tris(tetracarbonylruthenium)
(3 RuRu)
Other names Ruthenium carbonyl
Identifiers
CAS number [15243-33-1]
Properties
Molecular formula C12O12Ru3
Molar mass 639.33 g/mol
Appearance orange solid
Density 2.48 g/cm3
Melting point

224 °C

Boiling point

sublimes in vacuum

Solubility in water insoluble
Solubility in other solvents organic solvents
Structure
Dipole moment 0 D
Hazards
Main hazards CO source
R-phrases 11-20
S-phrases none
Related compounds
Related compounds Fe3(CO)12
Os3(CO)12
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Infobox disclaimer and references

Triruthenium dodecarbonyl is the chemical compound with the formula Ru3(CO)12. This orange-colored metal carbonyl cluster is an important precursor to organo-ruthenium compounds.

Contents

[edit] Structure and synthesis

The cluster has D3h symmetry, consisting of an equilateral triangle of Ru atoms, each of which bears two axial and two equatorial CO ligands.[1] Os3(CO)12 has the same structure, whereas Fe3(CO)12 is different, with two bridging CO ligands, resulting in C2v symmetry.

Ru3(CO)12 is prepared by heating a methanol solution of ruthenium trichloride under a high pressure of carbon monoxide at 250 °C.[2] The stoichiometry of the reaction is uncertain, one possibility being the following:

6 RuCl3 + 33 CO → 2 Ru3(CO)12 + 9 COCl2

[edit] Reactions

The chemical properties of Ru3(CO)12 have been widely studied, and it has been converted to hundreds of derivatives.

High pressures of CO convert the cluster to the monomeric pentacarbonyl, which reverts back to the parent cluster upon standing.

Ru3(CO)12 + 3 CO → 3 Ru(CO)5 Keq = 3.3 x 10-7 mol dm–3 at room temperature

The instability of Ru(CO)5 contrasts sharply with the robustness of the corresponding Fe(CO)5. The condensation of Ru(CO)5 into Ru3(CO)12 proceeds via initial, rate-limiting loss of CO to give the unstable, coordinatively unsaturated species Ru(CO)4. This tetracarbonyl binds Ru(CO)5, initiating the condensation.[3]

Upon warming under a pressure of hydrogen, Ru3(CO)12 converts to the tetrahedral cluster H4Ru4(CO)12.[4] Ru3(CO)12 undergoes substitution reactions with Lewis bases:

Ru3(CO)12 + n L → Ru3(CO)12-nLn + n CO

where L is a tertiary phosphine or an isonitrile.

[edit] Ru-carbido clusters

At high temperatures, Ru3(CO)12 converts to a series of clusters that contain interstitial carbido ligands. These include Ru6C(CO)17 and Ru5C(CO)15. Anionic carbido clusters are also known, including [Ru5C(CO)14]2- and the bioctahedral cluster [Ru10C2(CO)24]2-.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Slebodnick, C.; Zhao, J.; Angel, R.; Hanson, B. E.; Song, Y.; Liu, Z.; Hemley, R. J., "High Pressure Study of Ru3(CO)12 by X-ray Diffraction, Raman, and Infrared Spectroscopy", Inorg Chem., 2004, 43, 5245-52.
  2. ^ Bruce, M. I.; Jensen, C. M.; Jones, N. L. “Dodecacarbonyltriruthenium, Ru3(CO)12” Inorganic Syntheses, 1989, volume 26, pages 259-61. ISBN 0-471-50485-8.
  3. ^ Hastings, W. R.; Roussel, M. R.; Baird, M. C. “Mechanism of the conversion of [Ru(CO)5] into [Ru3(CO)12]” Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions, 1990, pages 203-205. DOI: 10.1039/DT9900000203
  4. ^ Bruce, M. I.; Williams, M. L. “Dodecacarbonyl(tetrahydrido)tetraruthenium, Ru4(μ-H)4(CO)12” Inorganic Syntheses, 1989, volume 26, pages 262-63. ISBN 0-471-50485-8.
  5. ^ Nicholls, J. N.; Vargas, M. D. “Carbido-Carbonyl Ruthenium Cluster Complexes” Inorganic Syntheses, 1989, volume 26, pages 280-85. ISBN 0-471-50485-8ISBN.