ChemInform Abstract: Condensation and Degradation Products from the Thermolysis Reactions of the Bridged Diphenylphosphido Derivatives (Ru3(μ2-PPh2)(μ2-H)(CO)9), (Ru3(μ2-PPh2)2(μ2-H)2(CO)8), (Ru3(μ2-PPh2)3(μ2-H)(CO)7) and (Ru3(μ2-PPh2)3(μ2-H)(CO)6(PPh2H))

Thermolysis of [Ru 3 (μ 2 -PPh 2 )(μ 2 -H)(CO) 9 ], [Ru 3 (μ 2 -PPh 2 ) 2 (μ 2 -H) 2 (CO) 8 ], [Ru 3 (μ 2 -PPh 2 ) 3 (μ 2 -H)(CO) 7 ] and [Ru 3 (μ 2 -PPh 2 ) 3 (μ 2 -H)(CO) 6 (PPh 2 H)] in xylene under reflux gives a wide range of condensation and/or degradation products, including [Ru 2 (μ-PPh 2 ) 2 (CO) 6 ], [Ru 3 (μ 3 -PPh) 2 (CO) 9 ], [Ru 3 (μ 3 -PPh)(μ 2 -PPh 2 ) 2 (CO) 7 ], [Ru 3 (μ 3 -η 2 -PhPC 6 H 4 PPh 2 )(μ 2 -PPh 2 ) 2 (μ 2 -H)(CO) 6 ], [Ru 3 (μ 3 -η 2 -PhPC 6 H 4 PPh)(μ 2 -PPh 2 )(μ 2 -H)(CO) 7 ], [Ru 4 (μ 3 -PPh)(CO) 13 ], [Ru 4 (μ 4 -PPh) 2 (μ 2 -CO)(CO) 10 ], [Ru 5 (μ 4 -PPh)(CO) 15 ], [Ru 5 (μ 4 -PPh)(CO) 12 (η 6 -C 6 H 4 Me 2 )], [Ru 6 (μ 4 -PPh) 2 (μ 3 -PPh) 2 (CO) 12 ] and [Ru 7 (μ 4 -PPh) 2 (CO) 18 ]. The structures of the unusual trinuclear species [Ru 3 (μ 3 -PPh)(μ 2 -PPh 2 ) 2 (CO) 7 ], [Ru 3 (μ 3 -η 2 -PhPC 6 H 4 PPh 2 )(μ 2 -PPh 2 ) 2 (μ 2 -H)(CO) 6 ] and [Ru 3 (μ 3 -η 2 -PhPC 6 H 4 PPh)(μ 2 -PPh 2 )(μ 2 -H)(CO) 7 ] and that of the hexanuclear derivative [Ru 6 (μ 4 -PPh) 2 (μ 3 -PPh) 2 (CO) 12 ] have been established by X-ray crystallography.