Synthesis, Characterization, and Crystal Structures of Diruthenium Complexes Containing Bridging Salicylato Ligands

The thermal reaction of Ru-3(CO)(12) (1) with salicylic acid, in the presence of triphenylphosphine, pyridine, or dimethylsulfoxide, afforded the dinuclear complexes Ru-2(CO)(4)(mu-O2CC6H4OH)(2)L-2 (2) [L = PPh3 (2a). C5H5N (2b); (CH3)(2)SO (2c)]. Complex 2b was further reacted with the aromatic dimmines 2,2'-dipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline to give the cationic diruthenium complexes [Ru-2(CO)(2)(mu-CO)(2)(mu-O2CC6H4OH)(N boolean AND N)(2)](+) (3) [(N boolean AND N) = 2,2'-dipyridine (3a); 1,10-phenanthroline (3b)], which were isolated as their tetraphenylborate salts. All five novel complexes were characterized spectroscopically and analytically. For 2a-2b and 3a-3b, single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies were also carried out.