A UNIQUE 3-STEP CYCLIC REACTION SEQUENCE OF HETEROTRIMETALLIC SULFIDECLUSTERS - STRUCTURES AND PROPERTIES OF STERISK-RHP(OET)(3)(MU-WS4)(CUCL)CU)(2)(MU-CL)(2)] (CP-ASTERISK=ETA(5)-C(5)ME(5)) WITH A BRANCHED STRUCTURE AND TERISK-RHP(OET)(3)(MU-WOS3)(CUCL)CU)(2)(MU-CL)(2)] WITH ALINKED INCOMPLETE CUBANE-TYPE STRUCTURE

The trinuclear cluster [Cp()RhP(OEt)(3)(mu-WS4)(CuCl)] (1) shows a un ique three-step cyclic reaction sequence with significant structural c hanges. The cyclic reaction involves a regiospecific CuCl addition of 1 to form an octanuclear branched cluster, [Cp()RhP(OE)(3)(mu-WS4)(Cu Cl)Cu}(2)(mu-Cl)(2)] (2), substitution of one bridging S atom in the W S4 group in 2 by an O atom from H2O in dichloromethane to produce 3 li nked incomplete cubane-type octanuclear cluster (Cp()RhP(OEt)(3)(mu-W OS3)(CuCl)Cu}(2)(mu-Cl)(2)] (3), and recovery of 1 from 3 based on a s pecific reactivity of the CuCl group(s) in 1 and 3 toward H2S.