[Ru3(CN)3(CO)9]3-: Building Block for Multimetallic Cages.

ABSTRACT

A cluster-ligand is disclosed in the form of [Ru3(CN)3(CO)9]3- ([1]3-). Produced by simple reaction of [Ru3(CO)12] with cyanide, [1]3- serves as a precursor to a series of µ-CN cages. When treated with [Ru3(CO)12], it readily forms the prism [Ru6(µ-CN)3(CO)18]3-. With 1.5 equiv of [Cu(MeCN)4]+ [1]3- reacts to give the expanded prism {Cu3[Ru3(µ-CN)3(CO)9]2}3-, which features three two-coordinate Cu(I) centers. Sources of Ni2+ and Fe2+ bind two equivalents of [1]3-, giving the double cages {M[Ru3(µ-CN)3(CO)9]2}4- (M = Ni, Fe) wherein the central metal is octahedral. The 11 reaction using [Fe(H2O)6]2+ gave the interpenetrated super-tetrahedrane {Fe4(µ4-O)[Ru3(µ-CN)3(CO)9]4}4-.