Multiple reactions of triphenylstannane with Ru(5)(CO)(12)(C(6)H(6))(mu(5)-C) yield bimetallic clusters with unusually large numbers of tin ligands.

The cluster complex Ru(5)(CO)(12)(C(6)H(6))(mu(5)-C), 1, undergoes multiple addition reactions with Ph(3)SnH to yield two new bimetallic cluster complexes: Ru(5)(CO)(8)(mu-SnPh(2))(4)(C(6)H(6))(mu(5)-C), 2, 2% yield, and Ru(5)(CO)(7)(mu-SnPh(2))(4)(SnPh(3))(C(6)H(6))(mu(5)-C)(mu-H), 3, 26% yield, containing four and five tin ligands, respectively. Both compounds consist of a square pyramidal Ru(5) cluster with an interstitial carbido ligand and bridging SnPh(2) groups located across each of the four edges of the base of the Ru(5) square pyramid. Compound 3 contains an additional SnPh(3) group terminally coordinated to one of the ruthenium atoms in the square base.