Ruthenium Carbene Complexes Containing a Triazolidene Cationic Ligand

Reaction of the bis(dihydrogen)ruthenium complex RuH2(H2)2(PCy3)2 (1) with 1 equiv of the dicationic heterocyclic carbene precursor (C6H13N3)(SO3CF3)2 (3) produces in good yield the hydrido carbene complex [RuH(C6H12N3)(OSO2CF3)(PCy3)2][SO3CF3] (4). An X-ray structural analysis of 4 confirms the triflate coordination to the metal. NMR data show that, in solution, 4 exists as a mixture of two isomers. By addition of 1 equiv of the dicationic carbene precursor 3 to the dimer [Cp*Ru(μ-OMe)]2 (2), the tricationic bis(carbene) complex [Cp*Ru(C6H12N3)2][SO3CF3]3 (7) is isolated in moderate yield and has been characterized by an X-ray structural determination and NMR data.