Stereochemical aspects of the conversion of cyclopentadienylruthenium alkoxycarbene to the corresponding acetylide complexes. Crystal structure of [(η-C5H5)Ru(Ph2PCHMeCHMePPh2)(CCPh)]

Reactions of [(η-C5H5)Ru(Diphosphine)C(OCH3)CH2C6H5]PF6 complexes with CH3MgBr give the corresponding phenylacetylide [(η-C5-H5)-Ru(Diphosphine)CCC6H5] complexes. A crystal structure determination has been carried out for the product in which the diphosphine is rac-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-ethanediylbis(diphenylphosphine). For the complexes in which the diphosphine is (R)-1,2-propanediylbis(diphenylphosphine), the stereo-chemical outcome of the reaction implies retention of configuration at the metal atom. © 1986.