Synthesis of Mono-, Di-, and Triruthenium(0) Complexes Having a Triphenylene Ligand

A series of mono-, di-, and triruthenium(0) complexes containing a triphenylene ligand, [Ru(η 4 -1,5-COD)] n (η 6 n -triphenylene) ( n = 1 ( 2 ), 2 ( 3 ), 3 ( 6 )) have been prepared by the ligand exchange reaction of Ru(η 4 -1,5-COD)(η 6 -naphthalene) ( 1 ) with triphenylene, reduction of Ru(acac) 2 (η 4 -1,5-COD) ( 4 ) with sodium/triphenylene, or hydrogenolysis of Ru(η 4 -1,5-COD)(η 6 -1,3,5-COT) ( 5 ) in the presence of triphenylene. These triphenylene complexes are interconvertible with each other by addition of a “Ru(η 4 -1,5-COD)” fragment or free triphenylene.