Synthesis and characterization of the substituted products from the reaction of a bulky phosphite with [Os₃(CO)₁₂]

Abstract

Reaction of (acetonitrile)-undeca(carbonyl)-tri-osmium and tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite yielded the phosphite clusters [Os₃(CO)₁₁L] (4) and [Os₃(CO)₁₀L₂] (5) [L = P(O-2,4- ^t Bu₂C₆H₃)₃]. These compounds were characterized spectroscopically and the molecular structure of 5 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, the first reported structural analysis of a tri-osmium cluster containing aromatic phosphite ligands. Compound 5 crystallized in the triclinic space group P 1, and revealed an equatorial trans–trans position of the bulky phosphite ligands.

Keywords:

• Osmium
• Cluster
• Phosphite
• Substitution

Acknowledgements

Financial assistance from the Research and Publication Committee, University of Botswana, South African National Research Foundation, THRIP and the Research Fund of the University of the Free State and SASOL is gratefully acknowledged. Part of this material is based on work supported by the South African National Research Foundation (SA NRF, GUN 2038915). Opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NRF. We (R.M., A.M.) are grateful to Professor A. Roodt (University of the Free State) for the freedom to pursue our own research within his group.