The synthesis of dicopper-hexaosmium clusters; X-ray structure analysis of the new heteronuclear cluster dianion [Cu2Os6(CO)18I2]2− as its [PPh3Me]+ salt

Abstract The dianion [Os 6 (CO) 18 ] 2− ( 1 ) reacts with [Cu(NCMe) 4 ] + to form [Os 6 (CO) 18 (CuNCMe) 2 ] ( 2 ). Treatment of 1 with [(PPh 3 Me)I] followed by reaction with [Cu(NCMe) 4 ] + gives [Os 6 (CO) 18 (CuI) 2 ] 2− ( 3 ). An X-ray crystal structure determination of 3 shows that a hexaosmium octahedral arrangement has opposite faces capped by CuI groups. Both 2 and 3 are susceptible to (CuL) loss in the presence of nucleophiles such as organophosphines, THF or acetonitrile.