Carbon-carbon bond formation at dinuclear metal centres

The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons probably involves an array of carbon-carbon bond-formation processes occurring to unite carbene, carbyne, alkyl, olefin, and related species on a metal surface. In seeking to understand the nature of such processes, model diruthenium complexes have been prepared and the products of their thermolysis and reactions with unsaturated hydrocarbons investigated. The combination at a diruthenium centre of two carbenes, of a carbene and an alkyne, and of a carbyne and an olefin is described, and the possible implications for metal surface processes are emphasized.