(Cymene)ruthenium dichloride dimer

(Cymene)ruthenium dichloride dimer is the organometallic compound with the formula [(cymene)RuCl₂]₂. This red-coloured, diamagnetic solid is a reagent in organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis. The complex is structurally similar to (benzene)ruthenium dichloride dimer.

(cymene)ruthenium dichloride dimer

Names
Other names Dichloro(p-cymene)ruthenium(II) dimer
Identifiers
CAS Number	52462-29-0 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image Interactive image
ChemSpider	8297222 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.103.371
PubChem CID	10121702
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID50447901
InChI InChI=1S/2C10H14.4ClH.2Ru/c2*1-8(2)10-6-4-9(3)5-7-10;;;;;;/h2*4-8H,1-3H3;4*1H;;/q;;;;;;2*+2/p-4 Y Key: LAXRNWSASWOFOT-UHFFFAOYSA-J Y InChI=1/2C10H14.4ClH.2Ru/c2*1-8(2)10-6-4-9(3)5-7-10;;;;;;/h2*4-8H,1-3H3;4*1H;;/q;;;;;;2*+2/p-4 Key: LAXRNWSASWOFOT-XBHQNQODAM
SMILES [Ru+2].[Ru+2].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].c1cc(ccc1C(C)C)C.c1cc(ccc1C(C)C)C Cc1ccc(cc1)C(C)C.Cc1ccc(cc1)C(C)C.[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Ru+2].[Ru+2]
Properties
Chemical formula	C20H28Cl4Ru2
Molar mass	612.38 g·mol−1
Appearance	Red solid
Melting point	247 to 250 °C (477 to 482 °F; 520 to 523 K) (decomposes)
Solubility in water	Slightly, with hydrolysis
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Preparation and reactions

The dimer is prepared by the reaction of the phellandrene with hydrated ruthenium trichloride.^[1] At high temperatures, [(cymene)RuCl₂]₂ exchanges with other arenes:

[(cymene)RuCl₂]₂ + 2 C₆Me₆ → [(C₆Me₆)RuCl₂]₂ + 2 cymene

(Cymene)ruthenium dichloride dimer reacts with Lewis bases to give monometallic adducts:

[(cymene)RuCl₂]₂ + 2 PPh₃ → 2 (cymene)RuCl₂(PPh₃)

Such monomers adopt pseudo-octahedral piano-stool structures.

Precursor to catalysts

Treatment of [(cymene)RuCl₂]₂ with the chelating ligand TsDPENH gives (cymene)Ru(TsDPEN-H), a catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation.^[2]

[(cymene)RuCl₂]₂ is also used to prepare catalysts (by monomerization with dppf) used in borrowing hydrogen catalysis,^[3] a catalytic reaction that is based on the activation of alcohols towards nucleophilic attack.

It can also used to prepare other ruthenium—arene complexes.^[4]