Synthesis of trithia-borinane complexes stabilized in diruthenium core: [(Cp*Ru) <inf>2</inf> (η ¹ -S)(η ¹ -CS){(CH <inf>2</inf> ) <inf>2</inf> S <inf>3</inf> BR}] (R = H or SMe)

The thermolysis of arachno-1 [(Cp*Ru) 2 (B 3 H 8 )(CS 2 H)] in the presence of tellurium powder yielded a series of ruthenium trithia-borinane complexes: [(Cp*Ru) 2 (η 1 -S)(η 1 -CS){(CH 2 ) 2 S 3 BH}] 2, [(Cp*Ru) 2 (η 1 -S)(η 1 -CS){(CH 2 ) 2 S 3 B(SMe)}] 3, and [(Cp*Ru) 2 (η 1 -S)(η 1 -CS){(CH 2 ) 2 S 3 BH}] 4. Compounds 2-4 were considered as ruthenium trithia-borinane complexes, where the central six-membered ring {C 2 BS 3 } adopted a boat conformation. Compounds 2-4 were similar to our recently reported ruthenium diborinane complex [(Cp*Ru){(η 2 -SCHS)CH 2 S 2 (BH 2 ) 2 }]. Unlike diborinane, where the central six-membered ring {CB 2 S 3 } adopted a chair conformation, compounds 2-4 adopted a boat conformation. In an attempt to convert arachno-1 into a closo or nido cluster, we pyrolyzed it in toluene. Interestingly, the reaction led to the isolation of a capped butterfly cluster, [(Cp*Ru) 2 (B 3 H 5 )(CS 2 H 2 )] 5. All the compounds were characterized by 1 H, 11 B{ 1 H}, and 13 C{ 1 H} NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of complexes 2, 3, and 5 were also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.