IN-SITU FTIR SPECTROSCOPY STUDIES ON ELECTROCHEMICAL REDOX PROCESSES OF HIGH NUCLEARITY OSMIUM CARBONYL CLUSTERS

The electrochemical redox processes of two high nuclearity osmium carb onyl clusters [(Ph(3)P)(2)N](2)[Os10C-(CO)(24)]. PPN2 (1) and Os-6(CO) (18) (6) have been studied by electrochemical in situ FTIR. The five o xidation states of 1, i.e., [Os10C(CO)(24)](0/1-/2-/3-/4-), have been characterized. There are no significant structural changes for these s pecies. Hence, the ability of this decanuclear cluster to act as an el ectron reservoir has been demonstrated. The structural rearrangement a ssociated with the two-electron reduction of bicapped tetrahedral 6 to octahedral dianion [Os-6(CO)(18)](2-) and [Os-6(CO)(18)](4-) tetraani on has also been investigated.