Unexpected formation of a μ-carbido diruthenium(iv) complex during the metalation of phthalocyanine with Ru3(CO)12 and its catalytic activity in carbene transfer reactionsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7dt03703a

A μ-carbido diruthenium( iv ) phthalocyanine complex was prepared for the first time from the free-base octabutoxyphthalocyanine by direct metalation with Ru 3 (CO) 12 . The first examples of the catalytic activity of Ru( iv ) binuclear phthalocyanines were demonstrated by the cyclopropanation of aromatic olefins and carbene insertion into the N-H bonds of aromatic or aliphatic amines with turnover numbers of 680-1000 and 580-1000, respectively. Catalytic activity of novel μ-carbido Ru( iv ) bisphthalocyaninate was firstly demonstrated by the olefin cyclopropanation and carbene insertion into N-H bonds.