Dimethyl 7a-carbonyl-2-meth-oxy-7a,7a-bis-(triphenyl-phosphino)-7a-ruthena-1-benzofuran-4,7-dicarboxyl-ate.

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Ru(C(12)H(12)O(6))(C(18)H(15)P)(2)(CO)], confirms its formulation as a ruthenabenzofuran, with a slightly distorted octa-hedral coordination environment at the Ru(II) ion, and mutually trans triphenyl-phosphine ligands. The metallabicyclic ring system is essentially planar (maximum deviation 0.059 Å).

Coordination chemistry of 1,4-bis-carboxymethylcyclam, H(2)(1,4-bcc).

Zinc metal reduction of the cobalt(III) complex [Co(1,4-bcc)](+) (1,4-bcc = 1,4-bis-carboxymethylcyclam) produces the corresponding cobalt(II) complex which crystallises as the coordination polymer {[Co(1,4-bcc)]ZnCl(2)}(n). A method has been developed for removal of the cobalt(III) ion from [Co(1,4-bcc)](+) and isolation of the free ligand as its hydrochloride salt, H(2)(1,4-bcc).4HCl. This has been used for the preparation of new metal complexes, and the syntheses and characterisation of the copper(ii), nickel(ii), zinc(ii) and chromium(iii) complexes containing the 1,4-bcc ligand are described. X-Ray crystal structures of {[Co(1,4-bcc)]ZnCl(2)}(n).2.5H(2)O, {[Cu(1,4-bcc)]CuCl(2)}(n).0.25MeOH.H(2)O and [Cu(1,4-bcc)H]ClO(4) show the complexes to have the trans(O) geometry of the 1,4-bcc ligand, while the structure of [Cr(1,4-bcc)H(0.5)](ClO(4))(1.5).EtOH exhibits the cis(O) configuration.