| Abstract: | The synthesis of the diruthenium(II) compounds Ru2(μ-O2CR)4(MeOH)2] R = Me (1), Ph (2), CMePh2 (3) C6H4-p-OMe (4), C6H4-p-CMe3 (5)] by reaction of  with hydroquinone, under a nitrogen atmosphere, in the presence of a base is described. This reaction constitutes an easy via to the preparation of diruthenium(II) compounds. The structure of the complexes Ru2(μ-O2CMe)4(MeOH)2] (1) and Ru2(μ-O2CPh)4(thf)2] (2b) is established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. These compounds show a diruthenium(II) unit bridged by four carboxylate ligands with the axial positions occupied by methanol and tetrahydrofuran molecules for 1 and 2b, respectively. Complex 1 shows, in the solid state, polymeric chains in which the molecules Ru2(μ-O2CMe)4(MeOH)2] are linked by hydrogen bonds. |
