Synthesis and Structure of an (η4-1-Phosphatrimethylenemethane)ruthenium Complex

The ring-opening of (1-phenyl-2-isopropylidenephosphirane)pentacarbonyltungsten upon heating with [Ru3(CO)12] affords a mixture of two isomers of [η4-3,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1-pentacarbonyltungsten-1-phosphatrimethylenemethane]tricarbonylruthenium. The X-ray analysis of one of these isomers shows that the phosphatrimethylenemethane ligand adopts an umbrella shape, is bound in an η4 fashion, and is staggered relative to the three carbonyl ligands of ruthenium.