The disilazane complex [RuH
2{(
2-HSiMe
2)
2NH}(PCy
3)
2] (
2) was formed by the reaction of the bis(dihydrogen) complex RuH
2(H
2)
2(PCy
3)
2 (
1) with 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazane. The coordination of the disilazaneligand is discussed on the basis of NMR, X-ray, and DFTstudies. The choice of the functional (B3PW91 versusB3LYP) is crucial in this system.
1 is an active catalystfor the selective deuteration of the starting disilazane(HSiMe
2)
2NH into (DSiMe
2)
2NH.