Suzuki Coupling at the Periphery of Diruthenium Coordination and Organometallic Compounds

A series of diruthenium compounds, Ru2(DArF)3(L‘ ‘)Cl (2), where the auxiliary ligand DArF is DmAniF or D(3,5-Cl2Ph)F and L‘ ‘ is one of the diarylformamidinate ligands containing at least one biphenyl, were prepared from
Suzuki reactions between Ru2(DArF)3(L‘)Cl (1), where L‘ is (4-I-Ph)NC(H)NPh (N-(4-iodophenyl)-N‘-phenylformamidinate) or D(4-I-Ph)F (N,N‘-di(4-iodophenyl)formamidinate), and ArB(OH)2 (Ar = Ph and 4-CH3C(O)Ph) in
satisfactory yields. Alkynylation of the type 2 compounds with LiCCPh yielded the alkynyl derivatives Ru2(DArF)3(L‘ ‘)(CCPh) (3). Alternatively, type 3 compounds can be prepared from the Suzuki coupling reaction between
Ru2(DArF)3(L‘)(C2Ph) and ArB(OH)2. A structural comparison between the type 1 and 2 compounds revealed minimal
changes in the coordination sphere of Ru2 core. Cyclic voltammograms of Suzuki derivatives resemble those of the
parent compounds, indicating the retention of the electrophore characteristic of diruthenium species upon peripheral
modification.