Remarkably Facile and Reversible Ru−C(sp³) Bond Cleavage to Give a Reactive 16-Electron Cp*Ru(κ²-P,Carbene) Zwitterion

An 18-electron Cp*Ru(κ³-P,C,C‘) complex provides access to a 16-electron Cp*Ru(κ²-P,C) zwitterion by way of an unprecedented Ru−C(sp³) bond cleavage process that is both facile and reversible. Notably, this reactive zwitterion has proven capable of facilitating the Ru-mediated double geminal Si−H bond activation of Ph₂SiH₂.