A Percyanovinylidene−Ruthenium Complex, Ru{CC5(CN)3[C(CN)2]2}(dppe)Cp*

The reaction between Ru(CCCCAg)(dppe)Cp* and tcne affords a novel percyanovinylidene complex by an unusual decyano-dimerization reaction of the cyanocarbon with the diynyl fragment. This complex is also obtained from tcne and Ru{CCCC[Au(PPh3)]}(dppe)Cp*, together with Ru{CCC[C(CN)2]C[Au(PPh3)]C(CN)2}(dppe)Cp*, formed by the anticipated [2 + 2] cycloaddition and subsequent ring-opening reactions.