A divalent thiaruthenacycle complex,
cis-Ru[SC
6H
3(2-CH
2)(6-Me)-
2S,C](PMe
3)
4 (
3), isprepared by the treatment of Ru(
4-1,5-COD)(
6-1,3,5-COT) (
1) with 2,6-dimethylbenzenethiolin the presence of PMe
3 via Ru(
5-cyclooctadienyl)(SC
6H
3Me
2-2,6)(PMe
3)
2 (
2). Exposure of
3in benzene to H
2 (0.1 MPa) leads to the quantitative formation of
cis-RuH(SC
6H
3Me
2-2,6)(PMe
3)
4 (
4), which readily turns to
3 at room temperature on evacuation, indicating thereversibility of the reaction. Both forward and backward reactions of this equilibrium areretarded by addition of PMe
3, suggesting prerequisite prior dissociation of PMe
3 for bothreactions. Complex
3 catalyzes selective and facile deuteration of the
ortho-methyl and themercapto groups in 2,6-dimethylbenzenethiol under D
2.