((mu(sub 2)-H)Ru3(CO)9(mu(sub 3)-NS(O)MePh)): an electron-deficient trinuclear cluster containing a chiral sulfoximido cap

Thermal reaction between optically pure methylphenylsulfoximine and triruthenium dodecacarbonyl leads to the trinuclear cluster ((mu(sub 2)-H)Ru3(CO)9(mu(sub 3)-NS(O)MePh)). The H bridge, N=S(O)MePh cap and three Ru(CO)3 units contribute one, three and 42 electrons, respectively, for the electron-deficient 46 electrons cluster. The chiral sulfur atom of stereogenic sulfoximido cap is tetrahedrally coordinated. The electron-deficient cluster exhibits fluxional characteristics in solution.