A simple molecule with a complex crystal structure: interplay of 31P solid-state NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal x-ray diffraction in the structure determination of a ruthenium diphosphine diamine complex.

A comprehensive 31P solid-state NMR study of Ru(eta1-Ph2PCH2CH2OCH3)2(eta2-en)Cl2 (en = ethylenediamine) (1), by 1D (contact time variation, inversion-recovery, SPARTAN) and 2D techniques (homonuclear J-resolved, SECSY) indicated that the crystal structure of 1 should be complex. The single-crystal x-ray structure determination confirmed the presence of eight independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, with 31P isotropic chemical shifts in the range 27.3-40.1 ppm, while the spans of the phosphorus chemical shift tensors are of the order of 170 ppm. Based on unique structural features and NMR data, one molecule has been tentatively assigned.