OXIDATIVE-DEGRADATION REACTIONS OF THE HO MONUCLEAR COBALT HYDRIDE CLUSTER [(ETA(5)-CP-ASTERISK)CO](3)H-4

The homonuclear cobalt cluster [(eta(5)-Cp)Co]H-3(4) 2 reacts with va rious organic and inorganic substrates with complete degradation of th e cluster core to afford mainly mononuclear organometallic cobalt comp ounds. Thus, whereas reaction of the cluster with CO, NO or alkynes re sults in the retention of the Co-3 ring, the cluster reacts with Br-2, I-2,I-2/CO, I-2/P(C2H5)(3), CCl4, HCl3, (CH2)(2)Br-2, Hacac, CH2Br2, ( C6H5CO)OOC(CH3)(3), HBF4, and BrCN to give mononuclear complexes or br idged dinuclear complexes without a metal-metal bond. In all cases for mal oxidation of the metal center is observed. The crystal structures of six organocobalt complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallog raphy.