The chemistry of polynuclear compounds. Part XXVI. Products of the pyrolysis of dodecacarbonyl-triangulo-triruthenium and -triosmium

Abstract

Pyrolysis of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] in a sealed evacuated tube gives [Ru₆(CO)₁₇C] thereby clearly establishing that the ‘isolated’ carbon atom is derived from reduction of a CO group. Pyrolysis of [Os₃(CO)₁₂] under similar conditions leads to formation of polynuclear osmium carbonyl species based on five to eight osmium atoms, viz. [Os₅(CO)₁₆], [Os₅(CO)₁₅C], [Os₆(CO)₁₈], [Os₇(CO)₂₁], [Os₈(CO)₂₃], and [Os₈(CO)₂₁C]. The probable structures of these polynuclear complexes are discussed.