The reaction of Hg(O2CCF3)2 with [Os6(CO)18]; synthesis and crystal structures of two new products: [HOs5Hg2(CO)15(O2CCF3)3] and cis-[Os4(CO)12(O2CCF3)2]

Abstract Further studies of the reaction between mercury(II) trifluoroacetate and [Os 6 (CO) 18 ] have given the new heterometallic derivatives [HOs 5 Hg 2 (CO) 15 (O 2 CCF 3 ) 3 ] ( 1 ) and cis -[Os 4 (CO) 12 (O 2 CCF 3 ) 2 ] ( 2 ). Compound 2 differs from trans -[Os 4 (CO) 12 (O 2 CCF 3 ) 2 ], isolated earlier from this reaction, in having the two acetate ligands on the same side of the Os 4 plane. Both compounds 1 and 2 been fully characterised by single-crystal X-ray analysis.