Thermal reaction of a ruthenium bis(silyl) complex having a lutidine-based Si,N,Si ligand: formation of a mu-silyl(mu-silylene) diruthenium complex involving a 3c-2e Ru-Si-C interaction.

Thermal reaction of a bis(silyl) complex Ru{kappa(3)Si,Si,N-2,6-(Me(2)SiCH(2))(2)C(5)H(3)N}(CO)(3) in refluxing toluene gave a dinuclear ruthenium complex Ru(2)(mu-SiMe(2))[(Me(2)SiCH(2))C(5)H(3)N{CH(2)Si(Me)CH(2)}C(5)H(3)N(CH(2)SiMe(3))](CO)(4), which has a 3c-2e Ru-Si-C interaction.