Abstract
To explore the structural transformation of cyclopentadienyl ruthenium (CpRu) complexes in response to external stimuli, the reaction of [RuCp(MeCN)3][X] (X = PF6, (FSO2)2N [= FSA]) and tris(alkylthio)benzenes (1,3,5-C6H3(SR)3; L 1 : R = Pr, L 2 : R = Me) was investigated, and the crystal structures and thermal properties of the products were examined. The reaction produced the sandwich complexes [RuCpL n ][X] or dinuclear complexes [Ru2Cp2(μ-L n )2(CH3CN) m ][X]2 (X = PF6, FSA) depending on the reaction conditions. The sandwich complex [RuCpL 1 ][FSA] was an ionic liquid. The solids of dinuclear complexes transformed into the thermodynamically stable sandwich complexes upon heating accompanied by acetonitrile loss. This change resulted in a transformation from crystal to ionic liquid for complexes with the FSA anion. UV irradiation of the sandwich complex [RuCpL 1 ][PF6] in methanol produced the dinuclear complex [Ru2Cp2(μ-L 1 )2 L 1 2][PF6]2. The complex transformed into the sandwich complex upon heating.