ortho-Metallation at dimetallic centres: syntheses and X-ray characterization of Os2(O2CMe)2[Ph2P(C6H4)]Cl2 and Rh2(O2CMe)2[Ph2P(C6H4)]2(2MeCO2H)

Abstract

The complexes M₂(O₂Cme)₄x₂(M = Os, X = Cl; M = Rh, Z = MeOH) react with triphenylphosphine in acetic acid leading to partial replacement of acetate groups by triphenylphosphine ligands in which ortho-metallation has occurred at one of the phenyl rings on each phosphine; the isolated products, M₂(O₂ CMe)₂[Ph₂P(C₆ H₄]₂X₂, M = Os, M = Cl; M = Rh, X = MeCO ₂H) have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, showing that each complex has a central M₂L₈core consisting of the dimetal unit bridged, in a cisoid arrangement, by two acetate groups and two ortho-metallated triphenylphosphine legands.