Synthesis of the µ-PH hexaosmium clusters [Os6H2(CO)20L(µ3-PH)](L = CO or MeCN) and their reactions with base: X-ray crystal structures of [Os6H2(CO)20(MeCN)(µ3-PH)] and [Os6H3(CO)19(CO2Me)(µ3-PH)]

Abstract

Mild heating of the phosphidotriosmium cluster [Os₃H(CO)₁₀(µ₂-PH₂)](1) with [Os₃(CO)_{12 –n}(MeCN)_n](n= 1 or 2) gives high yields of the (µ₃-PH) bridged hexaosmium clusters (2) and (3); reactions of (2) and (3) with bases and X-ray structure analyses of (3) and of (6), which was obtained from (3) and MeO^– followed by acid treatment are described.