Interconversion of µ2-phenolato and µ3-oxodienediyl ligands in triosmium clusters: X-ray crystal structure of 1,1,1,2,2,2,3,3,3-nonacarbonyl-1,2:2,3-di-µ-hydrido-(µ3-3-benzyl-2-oxocyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,1-diyl-1,2-C1-3-O)-triangulo-triosmium(3Os–Os)

Abstract

The X-ray crystal structure of [Os₃(CO)₉H₂(µ₃-OC₆H₃CH₂Ph)], derived from [Os₃(CO)₁₂]and 2-benzylphenol, shows the complex to contain what is best considered as the non-aromatic µ₃-3-benzyl-2-oxocyclo-hexa-3,5-diene-1,1-diyl ligand and, although we have found no ligand reactivity consistent with this, the ¹³C n.m.r. spectra of the unsubstituted [Os₃(CO)₁₀H₂(µ₃OC₆H₄)] and the related [Os₃(CO)₁₀H₂(µ₃-NHC₆H₄)] are inconsistent with aromatic descriptions for the carbon rings of both compounds.