Tris(acetonitrile)cyclopentadienylruthenium hexafluorophosphate

Tris(acetonitrile)cyclopentadienylruthenium hexafluorophosphate is an organoruthenium compound with the formula [(C₅H₅)Ru(NCCH₃)₃]PF₆, abbreviated [CpRu(NCMe)₃]PF₆. It is a yellow-brown solid that is soluble in polar organic solvents. The compound is a salt consisting of the hexafluorophosphate anion and the cation [CpRu(NCMe)₃]⁺. In coordination chemistry, it is used as a source of RuCp⁺ for further derivitization. In organic synthesis, it is a homogeneous catalyst. It enables C-C bond formation and promotes cycloadditions. The cyclopentadienyl ligand (Cp) is bonded in an η⁵ manner to the Ru(II) center.

Preparation

The title complex is synthesized in two steps from the (benzene)ruthenium dichloride dimer. In the first step, the Cp⁻ group is installed using cyclopentadienylthallium:

[(C₆H₆)RuCl₂]₂ + 2 TlCp + 2 NH₄PF₆ → 2 [Cp(C₆H₆)Ru]PF₆ + 2 TlCl + 2 NH₄Cl

The second step entails photochemical displacement of the benzene ligand, which is replaced by three equivalents of acetonitrile (MeCN):

[Cp(C₆H₆)Ru]PF₆ + 3 MeCN → [CpRu(NCMe)₃]PF₆ + C₆H₆

References