B-H, C-H, and B-C bond activation: the role of two adjacent agostic interactions.

Tuning the nature of the linker in a L~BHR phosphinoborane compound led to the isolation of a ruthenium complex stabilized by two adjacent, δ-C-H and ε-B(sp2)-H, agostic interactions. Such a unique coordination mode stabilizes a 14-electron "RuH2P2" fragment through connected σ-bonds of different polarity, and affords selective B-H, C-H, and B-C bond activation as illustrated by reactivity studies with H2 and boranes.