Catalytic Allylic Alkylation and Allylic Phenolation Reactions with Ruthenium Complexes. Solid-State Structures of a Model Catalytic DMF Intermediate, [Ru(Cp*)(Cl)(η3-C3H5)(DMF)](PF6), and a New Tetranuclear Salt, [Ru(Cp){Ru(Cp)(η6-p-CH3C6H4CN)}3](PF6)4

Results from Ru-catalyzed (i) allylic alkylation reactions for linear and branched para-substituted aryl carbonates, p -R 1 C 6 H 4 CH CHCH 2 OCO 2 Bu t and p -R 1 C 6 H 4 CH(OCO 2 Bu t )-CH CH 2, with dimethyl malonate and (ii) allylic phenolation reactions using C 6 H 5 CH(OCO 2 Bu t )CH CH 2 and phenol compounds are presented. The possible role of the π-arene complexes [Ru(Cp*)(η 6 - p -XC 6 H 4 CH CHCH 2 OCO 2 Bu t )]PF 6 is discussed. Solid-state structures for [Ru(Cp*)(Cl)(η 3 -C 3 H 5 )(DMF)](PF 6 ) ( 12 ) and a new tetranuclear salt, [Ru(Cp){Ru(Cp)(η 6 - p -CH 3 C 6 H 4 CN)} 3 ](PF 6 ) 4, based on toluinitrile, are presented. Analysis of the solid-state data for the model salt 12 provides a partial understanding with respect to how several factors, e.g., the choice of solvent and the nature of the reagents themselves, might affect the regioselectivity of these reactions.