The reaction of [H4Ru4(CO)12] with 1-penten-3-yne: dimerization and trimerization through the triple bonds

The clusters [Ru4(?-CO)(CO)10(?4-?1:?2:?1:?2-C5H6)2] (1), [Ru4(CO)8(?4-?4:?1:?1:?1:?3-C10H12)(?3-?3:?2:?1-C5H6)] (2) and [Ru4(CO)10(?4-?4:?1:?1:?3:?1-C15H16)] (3) have been prepared from the reaction of [H4Ru4(CO)12] with 1-penten-3-yne. This reaction is observed to proceed with dimerization and trimerization through the triple bonds. The products were characterized spectroscopically by 1H- and 13C-NMR. X-ray crystal structures of compounds 1 and 2 are also described.