Insertion of SnCl2, into the metal-metal bonds in bridged binuclear complexes (Me2E)[(eta(5)-C5H4)M(CO)](2)(mu-CO)(2) (E = Si, Ge; M = Fe, Ru). The molecular structure of (Me2Ge)[(eta(5)-C5H4)Fe(CO)(2)](2)SnCl2

The synthesis of bridged binuclear complexes (Me2E)[(eta(5)-C5H4)M(CO)](2)(mu-CO)(2) [E = Si, M = Ru (3); E = Ge, M = Fe (2), M = Ru (4)] is described. Insertion of SnCl2 into the metal-metal bonds in these complexes affords a type of hetero-nuclear cyclic metallic complexes (Me2E)[(eta(5)-C5H4)M(CO)(2)](2)SnCl2 [E = Si, M = Ru (7); E = Ge, M = Fe (6), M = Ru (8)]. Complex 6 reacts with Grignard reagents RMgX to yield alkyl (or aryl)-substituted analogues (Me2Ge)[(eta(5)-C5H4)Fe(CO)(2)](2)SnR2 [R = Me (9); R = Ph (10)]. AU of the complexes were characterized by IR, H-1 NMR and elementary analysis. Both 6 and 8 are still characterized by Sn-119 NMR. The molecular structure of 6 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystals of 6 are orthorhombic, space group Pcab with a = 13.499(2) Angstrom, b = 16.883(6) Angstrom, c = 18.368(4) Angstrom, V = 4168(3) Angstrom(3), Z = 8, Dx = 2.044 g cm(-3), R (R-w)= 0.044 (0.059). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.