Dinitrogen complexes of osmium(II)

Abstract

A series of 12 dinitrogen complexes of osmium(II), mer-[OsX₂(N₂)(QR₃)₃](X = Cl or Br; QR₃= tertiary phosphine or arsine) has been prepared by the zinc reduction under dinitrogen of solutions of mer-[OsX₃(QR₃)₃] in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF). The compounds are assigned the meridional configuration with dinitrogen trans to halogen on the basis of their n.m.r. and i.r. spectra. The co-ordinated dinitrogen is displaced quantitatively by diphosphine Ph₂P·CH₂·CH₂·PPh₂ or by halide ion in the presence of air. Attempts to prepare an analogous series of complexes of ruthenium(II) were unsuccessful.