Ruthenium(II) carbonyl compounds with the 4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligand

Two ruthenium carbonyl complexes with the 4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligand (tpy-Cl, C15H10ClN3), i.e. [RuCl(tpy-Cl)(CO)2][RuCl3(CO)3] (I) [systematic name: cis-dicarbonylchlorido(4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ3N)ruthenium(II) fac-tricarbonyltrichloridoruthenate(II)], and [RuCl2(tpy-Cl)(CO)2] (II) [cis-dicarbonyl-trans-dichlorido(4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ2N1,N1′)ruthenium(II)], were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The RuII atoms in both centrosymmetric structures (I) and (II) display similar, slightly distorted octahedral coordination spheres. The coordination sphere in the complex cation in compound (I) is defined by three N atoms of the tridentate tpy-Cl ligand, two carbonyl carbon atoms and one chlorido ligand; the charge is balanced by an octahedral [Ru(CO)3Cl3]− counter-anion. In the neutral compound (II), the tpy-Cl ligand coordinates to the metal only through two of its N atoms. The coordination sphere of the RuII atom is completed by two carbonyl and two chlorido ligands. In the crystal structures of both (I) and (II), weak C—H...Cl interactions are observed