A high-yield synthesis of Ru 5 C(CO) 15 by the carbonylation of Ru 6 C(CO) 17 ; the X -ray structure analyses of Ru 5 C(CO) 15 and Ru 5 C(CO) 14 PPh 3

In reaction with CO at 70 °C and 80 atm the hexanuclear cluster Ru6C(CO)17 undergoes carbonylation, ejects Ru(CO)5 and gives quantitative amounts of Ru5C(CO)15 which X-ray analysis has confirmed has a square-pyramidal Ru5 arrangement with an exposed carbido-atom; some reactions of this pentanuclear cluster are reported together with the X-ray structure analysis of its derivative Ru5C(CO)14PPh3.