On the lability of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) coordinated to the [Ru(II)-NO(+)] species: X-ray structures of mer-[RuCl(3)(DMSO)(2)(NO)] and mer-[RuCl(3)(CD(3)CN)(DMSO)(NO)].

The syntheses of nitrosyl-dimethylsulfoxide-ruthenium(II) complexes with general formula mer-[RuCl(3)(L)(DMSO)(NO)] (L=DMSO or CD(3)CN) is reported. The mer-[RuCl(3)(DMSO)(2)(NO)] (1) complex was obtained from the reaction of [RuCl(3)(NO)] with the sulfoxide ligand in acetone. The mer-[RuCl(3)(CD(3)CN)(DMSO)(NO)] (2) compound was obtained from mer-[RuCl(3)(DMSO)(2)(NO)] maintained in deuterated acetonitrile. These data suggest a slow kinetic reaction due the low lability of the DMSO ligand coordinated to the [Ru(II)-NO(+)] species. The crystal and molecular structures of (1) and (2) have been determined from X-ray studies. Crystal data: for (1), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a=8.8340(2) A, b=12.0230(3) A, c=13.7064(4) A, beta=114.546(2) degrees, Z=4, R1=0.0429; for (2), monoclinic, P21/n, a=10.0180(7) A, b=9.5070(7) A, c=13.3340(9) A, beta=102.264(4) degrees, Z=4, R1=0.0472. The spectroscopic characterization of (1), in solid state (infrared spectrum) and in solution (nuclear magnetic resonance and cyclic voltammetry) is also described.