Cluster growth reactions with selenido–carbonyl clusters. Synthesis and structural characterization of [M2Ru2(µ4-Se)2(µ-CO)4(CO)6(PPh3)2] (M = Mo or W)‡

Abstract

The open-triangular, nido cluster [Ru₃(µ₃-Se)₂(CO)₇(PPh₃)₂] (50 electrons, seven skeletal electron pairs, s.e.p.s) reacted at room temperature with [M(CO)₃(MeCN)₃] (M = Mo or W) to give unexpectedly the bicapped, square-planar clusters [M₂Ru₂(µ₄-Se)₂(µ-CO)₄(CO)₆(PPh₃)₂] as unique products; they exhibit an electron-deficient closo geometry with 60 electrons and six s.e.p.s.