A diruthenium complex containing an ortho-metallated bipyridyl ligand formed directly from [Ru3(CO)12] and pyridine

The cluster [RU3(CO)12] reacts with pyridine (6 mol/mol RU3) at 120°C to give [RU2(μ-pyr)2(CO)6] (pyr = 2-pyridyl, C5H4N) as head-to-head and head-to-tail isomers and with neat pyridine at 180°C to give [RU2 (μ-pyr)(μ-C10H7N2)(CO)5], shown by X-ray diffraction to contain a bridging orthometallated bipy ligand formed by coupling of two 2-pyridyl ligands.