Reactivity of a coordinatively unsaturated Cp*Ru(kappa2-P,O) complex.

Whereas a new coordinatively unsaturated Cp*Ru(kappa(2)-P,O) complex (1a) forms adducts with two-electron donors (including sigma-H(2) and mu-N(2) ligands), double Si-H bond activation is observed upon treatment with Ph(2)SiH(2) or PhSiH(3), leading to the clean formation of products corresponding to the net insertion of a Ph(2)Si: or Ph(H)Si: fragment into the Ru-O bond of 1a.