Effect of the phosphine ligand cone angle on the metal frameworks of heteronuclear cluster compounds containing Cu(PR3)(R = alkyl or aryl) groups: X-ray structure analyses of [Cu2Ru4(µ3-H)2(CO)12(PR3)2](R = cyclo-C6H11 or CHMe2)

Abstract

The cone angle of the phosphine ligands in the heteronuclear cluster compounds [Cu₂Ru₄(µ₃-H)₂(CO)₁₂(PR₃)₂](R = alkyl or aryl) has a marked effect on the metal framework structure adopted; when R = CHMe₂, two skeletal isomers, which interconvert at ambient temperature, are present in solution and when R = cyclo-C₆H₁₁, the cluster exhibits a previously unobserved type of Cu₂Ru₄ metal core structure.