Reactivity of the binuclear ruthenium "Pincer' complex [{RuCl2(η3-NN′N)}2(μ-N2)] towards N-donor ligands.: The X-ray crystal structure of [RuCl2(η3-NN′N)(NCPh)] (NN′N=2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]pyridine)

Treatment of the binuclear, dinitrogen-bridged complex [{RuCl2(eta(3)-NN'N)}(2)(mu-N-2)] (3, NN'N = 2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]pyridine) with two equivalents of acetonitrile gives the mononuclear derivative mer, trans-[RuCl2(eta(3)-NN'N)(NCMe)] (4), while the use of an excess of this ligand leads to the formation of the monocationic isomers mer,trans-[RuCl(eta(3)-NN'N)(NCMe)(2)]Cl (5) and mer,cis-[RuCl(eta(3)-NN'N)(NCMe)(2)]Cl (6). In contrast, when 3 is treated with an excess of benzonitrile or pyridine, the only products formed are mer, trans-[RuCl2(eta(3)-NN'N)(NCPh)] (7) and mer, trans-[RuCl2(eta(3)-NN'N(py)] (8; py = pyridine), respectively. The X-ray structures of 7 and related reactions with other N-donor ligands are reported. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.