Reduction of a diruthenium bridging vinylidene species Cp(2)RU(2)(mu-C=CH2)(CO)(mu-CO)(MeCN) by hydrosilane leading to a vinyl complex Cp(2)Ru(2)(mu-CH=CH2)(CO)(2)(SiR(3)) and vinylsilane: A model system for production of an olefinic product from a vinylidene intermediate

Treatment of the labile diruthenium bridging vinylidene species, Cp(2)Ru(2)(mu-C=CH2)(mu-CO)(CO)(MeCN) (7), with hydrosilane produces the silylated bridging vinyl complex, Cp(2)Ru(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-CH=CH2)(SiR(3))(CO)2 (8), from which vinylsilane CH2=CH-SiR(3) (19) is eliminated upon further treatment with 2e-donors. The reaction sequence, where hydrosilane works as a pseudohydrogen, can be viewed as a model system for production of an olefinic product from a vinylidene species on a heterogeneous catalyst surface. A similar reaction of 7 with HSnPh(3) gives small amounts of ethylene and Cp(2)Ru(2)(mu-H)(2)(SnPh(3))(2)(CO)(2) (20). The molecular structure of the SiMe(2)Ph derivative of 8 has been determined by X-ray crystallography.