Tricyanovinylalkynyl–metal complexes: synthesis and some reactions

Reactions of Group 8 metal ethynyls with tetracyanoethene afford tricyanovinylethynyl–metal derivatives, M{CCC(CN)C(CN)2}(PP)Cp′ [2; M = Ru, Os; PP = (PPh3)2, dppe; Cp′ = Cp, Cp*; not all combinations]; a similar reaction occurs with the vinylidene RuCl(CCHPh)(PPh3)Cp. Further replacement of a CN group in 2 occurs with nucleophiles, while homo- and hetero-metallic derivatives are obtained by coordination of one of the remaining CN groups to other metal–ligand fragments.