Multi-Ruthenocene Assemblies on an Organostannoxane Platform. Supramolecular Signatures and Conversion to (Ru–Sn)O2

The reaction of ruthenocene carboxylic acid (RcCOOH) with [n-BuSn­(O)­OH]n, (Ph3Sn)2O, and (PhCH2)3SnCl afforded hexameric compounds [RSn­(O)­OOCRc]6, R = n-Bu (1), Ph (2), and PhCH2 (3), respectively. These possess a prismane type Sn6O6 core which supports a hexa-ruthenocene periphery. Compounds [{n-Bu2Sn}2(μ3-O)­OOCRc2]2 (4) and [n-Bu2Sn­(OOCRc)2]­(5) were formed in the reaction of RcCOOH with n-Bu2SnO in 1:1 and 2:1 reactions, respectively. Compound [t-Bu2Sn­(μ–OH)­OOCRc]2 (6) is a dimer containing two ruthenocene units, and it was formed in the reaction of RcCOOH with (t-Bu2SnO)3 in a 3:1 ratio. Compounds 1–6 show an extensive supramolecular organization in the solid state as a result of several intermolecular interactions. Compound 1 could be converted quantitatively to a pure phase of the binary oxide, (RuSn)­O2 at 400 °C.