Unexpected formation of ruthenium(II) hydrides from a reactive dianiline precursor and 1,2-(Ph2P)2-1,2-closo-C2B10H10.

Reaction of the new precursor cis, trans-Ru(cod)(anln)2Cl2 with the diphosphine 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane (o-dppc) unexpectedly results in two new ruthenium(II) hydrides, trans-Ru(o-dppc) 2(H)Cl and the neutral, five-coordinate complex Ru(o-dppc)(nido-dppc)(H), depending upon the reaction conditions [anln is aniline and nido-dppc is 7,8-(Ph2P)2C2B9H10(-)]. Chloride abstraction from trans-Ru(o-dppc)2(H)Cl leads to another five-coordinate hydride, [Ru(o-dppc)2(H)](+), which is isolated as either a triflate or hexafluorophosphate salt. On the basis of labeling and reactivity studies, the source of the hydride appears to be the cod ligand.