SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF [M(2)(ETA(5)-C5H5)(2)(CO)(4)(MU-PH2)(MU-H)] (M=MO,W) - A NEW ROUTE TO MU-PH2 COMPLEXES INVOLVING NOVEL ACTIVATION OF A BRIDGING DIPHOSPHORUS LIGAND

Reaction of the known diphosphorus complexes [M(2)(eta(5)C(5)H(5))(2)( CO)(4)(mu,eta(2)-P-2)] (M = Mo 1a, W 1b) with M'OH (M' = Na, K) in thf -water followed by addition of HBF4 affords the new phosphido complexe s [M(2)(eta(5)C(5)H(5)>(2)(CO)(4)(mu-PH2)(mu-H)] (M = Mo 3a, W 3b) in good yield; 3a is the subject of a single-crystal X-ray diffraction st udy.