Reactivity of alkenes at a diruthenium centre: combination with methylene and oxidative activation

The complex [Ru2(CO)(CH2CH2)(µ-CH2)(µ-CO)(η-C5H5)2] undergoes methylene–ethylene combination on heating to give propene, and ethylene activation upon oxidation with Ag+ to give the µ-vinyl cation [Ru2(CO)2(µ-CHCH2)(µ-CH2)(η-C5H5)2]+; treatment of the latter with H– affords [Ru2(CO)2(µ-CH2)(µ-CHCH3)(η-C5H5)2], which evolves propene more efficiently on heating.