Ruthenium(II) carbonyl compounds with the 4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligand

Two ruthenium carbonyl complexes with the 4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligand (tpy-Cl, C(15)H(10)ClN(3)), i.e. [RuCl(tpy-Cl)(CO)(2)][RuCl(3)(CO)(3)] (I) [systematic name: cis-di­carbonyl­chlorido(4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ(3) N)ruthenium(II) fac-tricarbonyltri­chlorido­ruthenate(II)], and [RuCl(2)(tpy-Cl)(CO)(2)] (II) [cis-dicarbonyl-trans-di­chlorido(4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ(2) N (1),N (1′))ruthenium(II)], were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The Ru(II) atoms in both centrosymmetric structures (I) and (II) display similar, slightly distorted octa­hedral coordination spheres. The coordination sphere in the complex cation in compound (I) is defined by three N atoms of the tridentate tpy-Cl ligand, two carbonyl carbon atoms and one chlorido ligand; the charge is balanced by an octa­hedral [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(3)](−) counter-anion. In the neutral compound (II), the tpy-Cl ligand coordinates to the metal only through two of its N atoms. The coordination sphere of the Ru(II) atom is completed by two carbonyl and two chlorido ligands. In the crystal structures of both (I) and (II), weak C—H⋯Cl inter­actions are observed.