Ru–Ag and Ru–Au dicarbene complexes from an abnormal carbene ruthenium system

Reaction of [Ru(OAc)2(PPh3)2] with a P-functionalized imidazolium bromide easily affords a cationic abnormal carbene Ru system. Metalation with Ag2O yields a Ru-Ag complex containing an anionic dicarbene ligand, while subsequent transmetalation with Au(tht)Cl leads to the corresponding Ru-Au system. The bimetallic complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and are the first examples of complexes bearing anionic dicarbene ligands connecting two different d-block elements