Trindane−Ruthenium Sandwich Complexes: An NMR and X-ray Crystallographic Study of [(trindane)RuCl2]2, (trindane)RuCl2[P(OMe)3], and [(trindane)2Ru][BF4]2

Trindane and [( p -cymene)RuCl 2 ] 2 react in the melt to yield [(trindane)RuCl 2 ] 2 ( 4 ), the NMR spectra of which reveal the presence of [{(trindane)Ru} 2 (μ-Cl) 3 ]Cl ( 6 ) in solution. The X-ray crystal structure of 4 reveals that two of the cyclopentene rings adopt endo envelope conformations, while the third five-membered ring is folded in an exo fashion to avoid a terminal chlorine in the other half of the dimer. Bridge cleavage with trimethyl phosphite gives (trindane)RuCl 2 [P(OMe) 3 ] ( 8 ), and the X-ray crystal structure shows that all three peripheral rings are folded such that the wingtip methylene groups are oriented toward the metal. Finally, treatment of 4 with excess trindane in the presence of AgBF 4 yields the dicationic sandwich compound [(trindane) 2 Ru] 2+ 2BF 4 - ( 3 ).