Interconversion of tetrahedranes containing naked phosphorus ligands; synthesis of the trimetallic complexes [MonW(3-n) Cp3(CO)6(µ3-P)] (n = 0–3, Cp = η5-C5H5) and their air oxidation to the corresponding complexes of the µ3-PO ligand

Abstract

Thermolytic reaction of [MCp(CO) ₂ (η ³ -P ₃ )] with [M′ ₂ Cp ₂ (CO) ₄ ] (M = M′ = Mo or W, Cp = η -C ₅ H ₅ ) afforded the dimetallic complexes [Mo _n W _(2-n) Cp ₂ ( CO) ₄ (µ,η ² -P ₂ )] (n = 0–2) and the trimetallic complexes [Mo _n W _(3-n) Cp ₃ (CO) ₆ (µ ₃ -P)] (n = 0–3). Solutions of these trimetallics were readily oxidised by atmospheric oxygen to the corresponding complexes containing the µ ₃ -PO ligand, [Mo _n W _(3-n) Cp ₃ (CO) ₆ (µ ₃ -PO)] (n = 0–3). The complexes [Mo ₃ Cp ₃ (CO) ₆ (µ ₃ -PO)], [W ₂ Cp ₂ (CO) ₄ (µ,η ² -P ₂ )] and [MoWCp ₂ (CO) ₄ (µ, η ² -P ₂ )] have been characterised by X-ray diffraction.