Polarized Complexes Obtained by Regiospecific Substitution of a CN Group in Ru{CCC(CN)C(CN)2}(dppe)Cp* (Cp* = η-C5Me5)

The complex Ru­{CCC­(CN)C­(CN)2}­(dppe)­Cp* (1), containing the new tricyanovinylethynyl (3,4,4-tricyanobut-3-en-1-ynyl) ligand, undergoes ready substitution of the 3-cyano group by nucleophiles (Nu) such as H, Me, Pri, Bu, But, mesityl, OMe, OBut, OCH2CHCH2, NHEt, NEt2, and PPh2 to give Ru­{CCC­(Nu)C­(CN)2}­(dppe)­Cp*. The X-ray diffraction structures of several of the resulting complexes are reported and, for the mesityl and PPh2 products, show that isomerization to the 3,5-dimethylbenzyl and oxidation to the phosphine oxide have respectively occurred.