Double Carbon−Hydrogen Activation of 2-Vinylpyridine: Synthesis of Tri- and Pentanuclear Clusters Containing the μ-NC5H4CHC Ligand

Reactions of 2-vinylpyridine with the triruthenium complexes [Ru3(CO)12] and [Ru3(CO)10(μ-dppm)] leads to a previously unknown double carbon−hydrogen bond activation of the β-carbon of the vinyl group to afford the pentaruthenium and triruthenium complexes [Ru5(CO)14(μ4-C5H4CHC)(μ-H)2] (1) and [Ru3Cl(CO)5(μ-CO)(μ-dppm)(μ3-NC5H4CHC)(μ-H)] (2), respectively. Crystal structures reveal two different forms of bridging of the dimetalated 2-vinylpyridyl ligand, capping a square face in 1 and a triangular face in 2.