The enthalpies of reaction of Cp'Ru(COD)Cl(Cp' = C
5H
5,C
5Me
5; COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene)with a series of
-acceptor bidentate phosphines, leading to theformation of Cp'Ru(PP)Clcomplexes, have been measured by anaerobic calorimetry in THF at 30
C. These reactionsare rapid and quantitative. Structural studies have been carriedout on two complexes inthis series. The overall relative order of stability establishedfor these complexes in bothCp and Cp* systems is (PhO)
2PNMeNMeP(OPh)
2> Ph
2PNMeNMeP Ph
2 (C
4H
4N)
2PCH
2CH
2P(NC
4H
4)
2 >((EtO
2C)
2C
4H
2N)
2PCH
2CH
2P(NC
4H
2(CO
2Et)
2)
2. Presentthermochemicaldata are discussed in terms of the nature of the bonding involved inthe present complexes.