Dinuclear Ruthenium(II) κ²-Diamido/η⁶-Naphthalene Complexes Featuring a Coordinatively Unsaturated yet Highly π-Basic (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru Diamide Fragment

Acetonitrile induces a clean isomerization of the amido-bridged diruthenium complex [(Cp*Ru)2{μ2-κ2:η4-2,3-naphthalenediamido}] (1) into the κ2:η6-bonded dinuclear complex [Cp*Ru{μ2-κ2:η6-2,3-naphthalenediamido}RuCp*] (2a), featuring a coordinatively unsaturated Cp*Ru terminal diamide fragment. Structural and spectroscopic data of its carbon monoxide and tert-butyl isocyanide adducts indicate that the Cp*Ru diamide fragment can serve as a strong π-base.