The chemistry of polynuclear compounds. Part 29. Products of the reaction of triruthenium and triosmium dodecacarbonyls with water

Abstract

The reaction of triruthenium dodecacarbonyl, [Ru₃(CO)₁₂], with water leads to the formation of the tetranuclear hydrides α-[Ru₄(CO)₁₂H₄] and α-[Ru₄(CO)₁₃H₂]. The significance of this reaction to the possible activation of alkanes is discussed. The corresponding reaction of [Os₃(CO)₁₂] leads to the isolation of clusters based on three, four, five, six, and seven metal atoms, viz. [Os₃(CO)₁₀H(OH)], [Os₄(CO)₁₃H₂], [Os₄(CO)₁₂H₄], [Os₅(CO)₁₆H₂], [Os₅(CO)₁₅H₂], [Os₆(CO)₁₈H₂], and [Os₇C(CO)₁₉H₂]. The probable structures of these polynuclear osmium carbonyls are discussed and compared with those of the previously characterized osmium cluster carbonyls.