η(5)-η(1) ring slippage of [OsCp2] (Cp = η(5)-C5H5) and [Ru(η(5)-ind)2] (ind = indenyl) resulting from reaction with the ruthenium(VI) nitride [Ru(L(OEt))(N)Cl2] (1; L(OEt)(-) = [CoCp{P(O)(OEt)2}3](-)) is reported. The treatment of [OsCp2] or [Ru(η(5)-ind)2] with 1 resulted in η(5)-η(1) ring slippage of the cycloolefin ligands and formation of the trinuclear nitrido complexes [Cp(η(1)-C5H5)Os(NRuL(OEt)Cl2)2] (2) or [(η(5)-ind)(η(1)-ind)Ru(NRuL(OEt)Cl2)2] (3). No reactions were found between [OsCp2] and amines, such as pyridine and 2,2'-bipyridyl, or other metal nitrides, such as [Os(L(OEt))(N)Cl2], indicating that the electrophilic property of 1 is essential for ring slippage. The crystal structures of 2 and 3 have been determined. The short Os-N distances in 2 [1.833(5) and 1.817(5) Å] and the (ind)Ru-N distances in 3 [1.827(5) and 1.852(5) Å] are indicative of multiple bond character, consistent with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Therefore, 2 and 3 may be described by two resonance forms: Ru(VI)-M(II)-Ru(VI) and Ru(IV)-M(VI)-Ru(IV) (M = Os, Ru). Also, DFT calculations indicate that for the reaction of 1 with [OsCp2] or [Ru(η(5)-ind)2], η(5)-η(1) ring slippage is energetically more favorable than the η(5)-η(3) counterpart. The driving force for η(5)-η(1) ring slippage is believed to be the formation of the strong M-N (M = Os, Ru) (multiple) bonds. By contrast, the same reaction with acetonitrile is energetically uphill, and thus no ring slippage occurs.

Ruthenium thio- and seleno-nitrosyl complexes containing chelating sulfur and oxygen ligands have been synthesised and their de-chalcogenation reactions have been studied. The reaction of mer-[Ru(N)Cl3(AsPh3)2] with elemental sulfur and selenium in tetrahydrofuran at reflux afforded the chalcogenonitrosyl complexes mer-[Ru(NX)Cl3(AsPh3)2] [X = S (1), Se (2)]. Treatment of 1 with KN(R2PS)2 afforded trans-[Ru(NS)Cl{N(R2PS)2}2] [R = Ph (3), Pr(i) (4), Bu(t) (5)]. Alternatively, the thionitrosyl complex 5 was obtained from [Bu(n)4N][Ru(N)Cl4] and KN(Bu(t)2PS)2, presumably via sulfur atom transfer from [N(Bu(t)2PS)2](-) to the nitride. Reactions of 1 and 2 with NaLOEt (LOEt(-) = [Co(η(5)-C5H5){P(O)(LOEt)2}3](-)) gave [Ru(NX)LOEtCl2] (X = S (8), Se (9)). Treatment of [Bu(n)4N][Ru(N)Cl4] with KN(R2PS)2 produced Ru(IV)-Ru(IV)μ-nitrido complexes [Ru2(μ-N){N(R2PS)2}4Cl] [R = Ph (6), Pr(i) (7)]. Reactions of 3 and 9 with PPh3 afforded 6 and [Ru(NPPh3)LOEtCl2], respectively. The desulfurisation of 5 with [Ni(cod)2] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) gave the mixed valance Ru(III)-Ru(IV)μ-nitrido complex [Ru2(μ-N){N(Bu(t)2PS)2}4] (10) that was oxidised by [Cp2Fe](PF6) to give the Ru(IV)-Ru(IV) complex [Ru2(μ-N){N(Bu(t)2PS)2}4](PF6) ([10]PF6). The crystal structures of 1, 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10 have been determined.