Tris(acetonitrile)cyclopentadienylruthenium hexafluorophosphate is an organoruthenium compound with the formula [(C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)Ru(NCCH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]PF<sub>6</sub>, abbreviated [CpRu(NCMe)<sub>3</sub>]PF<sub>6</sub>. It is a yellow-brown solid that is soluble in polar organic solvents. The compound is a salt consisting of the hexafluorophosphate anion and the cation [CpRu(NCMe)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>+</sup>. In coordination chemistry, it is used as a source of RuCp<sup>+</sup> for further derivitization. In organic synthesis, it is a homogeneous catalyst. It enables C-C bond formation and promotes cycloadditions. The cyclopentadienyl ligand (Cp) is bonded in an ÷<sup>5</sup> manner to the Ru(II) center.
The title complex is synthesized in two steps from the (benzene)ruthenium dichloride dimer. In the first step, the Cp<sup>âÂÂ</sup> group is installed using cyclopentadienylthallium:
The second step entails photochemical displacement of the benzene ligand, which is replaced by three equivalents of acetonitrile (MeCN):