Reductive aggregation of an organorhenium oxide: an unusual metal chain structure

Abstract

Electrochemical reduction of the dinuclear d¹–d¹ organorhenium oxide Me₄Re₂O₄1 or chemical reduction by cobaltocene cleanly yields the radical anion 1˙^– which, upon controlled exposure to oxygen, disproportionates into hydrocarbons and the novel trinuclear complex [(C₅H₅)₂Co][(Me)₆Re₃O₆]2; this compound represents the first example of an acyclic organometallic oxide framework with metal–metal bonding.