[Ru4(CO)8(μ-OOCCH2CH3)4(THF)2] and [Ru3(μ3‑OH)(CO)6(μ-OOCtBu)4(OOCtBu)]: Novel Multinuclear Ruthenium Carbonyl Carboxylates

The reaction of Ru3(CO)12 with pivalic or propionic acid leads to the formation of two novel multinuclear ruthenium complexes, [Ru4(CO)8(μ-OOCCH2CH3)4(THF)2] (1) and [Ru3(μ3-OH)­(CO)6(μ-OOCtBu)4(OOCtBu)] (2). Compound 1 is among the few examples of discrete tetranuclear ruthenium compounds showcasing a “dimer of dimers” paddlewheel structure, in which two “Ru2(CO)4(μ-OOCCH2CH3)2(THF)” fragments are linked via Ru–O interactions. Compound 2 features a unique structural motif in which a triangular Ru3 core is connected via a μ3-OH ligand.