Syntheses of linked ruthenium and osmium carbonyl clusters containing a bridging oxalato ligand: X-ray structures of [{Os3(µ-H)(CO)10}2(C2O4)] and [{Ru5(µ-H)C(CO)14}2(C2O4)]

Abstract

The reaction of oxalic acid (H₂C₂O₄) with 2 equivalents of [Os₃(CO)₁₀(MeCN)₂] in CH₂Cl₂ yields yellow crystals of [{Os₃(µ-H)(CO)₁₀}₂(C₂O₄)]1 in good yield, while treatment of [Ru₅C(CO)₁₅] with 2 equivalents of oxalic acid affords [Ru₅(µ-H)C(CO)₁₄}₂(C₂O₄)]2 in low yield; the structures of 1 and 2 have been established by X-ray crystallography.