Boride cluster fusion through copper and silver. Crystal structure of [(Ph3P)(2)N][(HRu4(CO)(12)BH)(2)Ag]

Reaction of [(Ph3P)(2)N][HRu4(CO)(12)BH] with [Cu(NCMe)(4)][BF4] in the presence of [(Ph3P)(2)N]Cl leads to [(Ph3P)(2)N][HRu4(CO)(12)B)(2)Cu-4(mu -Cl)]Cl, confirmed by a single crystal structure determination. A silver analogue is produced from the reactions of [(Ph3P)(2)N][HRu4(CO)(12)BH] with [Ag(NCMe)(4)][BF4] or AgBF4, but its formation competes with that of [(Ph3P)(2)N][HRu4(CO)(12)BH)(2)Ag], the crystal structure of which has been determined. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.