Carbon−Carbon Bond Formation Involving a Vinylidene Ligand and Ferrocenyl Substituent in Cationic Ruthenium Complexes

A formal intramolecular olefin metathesis process between the CC double bond of a vinylidene ligand and a pendant vinyl group in several ruthenium complexes, each with a ferrocenyl group, is followed by an additional intramolecular C−C bond formation between a Cp ligand of the ferrocenyl substituent and the vinylidene ligand. The regioselectivity of the C−C bond formation reaction at either the substituted or the nonsubstituted Cp group of the ferrocenyl group is possibly influenced by a steric effect between the neighboring substituent near the ferrocenyl group and the phosphine ligand on the ruthenium metal center. The structure of one ruthenium complex resulting from such a C−C bond formation has been fully characterized by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.