An efficient synthesis of polyynyl and polyynediyl complexes of ruthenium(II) †

The fluoride-induced desilylation of trimethylsilyl-substituted alkynes and polyynes and subsequent reactions with RuCl(PPh3)2Cp have been used to synthesize complexes containing unsaturated chains containing up to six carbons. Reactions with Co2(CO)8 or tetracyanoethene have been further used to characterise the products. Structural confirmation of RuX(PPh3)2Cp [X = CCC6H4CCSiMe3 2, CCCCPh 4, CCC2Ph{Co2(CO)6} 8, CCC2H{Co2(µ-dppm)(CO)4} 9, CCC{C(CN)2}CPhC(CN)2 10 or CCC{C(CN)2}C{C(CN)2}CCPh 11] and {Ru(PPh3)2Cp}2(µ-Cn) [n = 4 (6) or 6 (7)] is reported.