Rhodium and iridium hydroxide complexes [M(mu-OH)(COD)](2) (M = Rh, Ir) asversatile precursors of homo and early-late heterobimetallic compounds. X-ray crystal structures of Cp*Ta(mu(3)-O)(4)[Rh(COD)](4) (Cp* = eta(5)-C5Me5) and [Ir(2-O-3-CN-4,6-Me-2-C5HN)(COD)](2)

The reaction of Cp*TiMe3 with 3 equiv of [Ir(mu-OH)(COD)](2) affords the ne w heterometallic organometallic oxide Cp*Ti(mu(3)-O)(3)[Ir(COD)](3) (3). Re action of Cp*TaMe4 with 4 equiv of [M(mu-OH)(COD)](2) (M = Rh, Ir) yields c omplexes Cp*Ta(mu(3)-O)(4)[M(COD)](4) [M = Rh (5), Ir (6)]. The structure o f compound 5 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Complexes 5 and 6 re act with the alcohol 3-CN-4,6-Me-2-2-OH-C5HN to yield the corresponding rho dium (7) or iridium (8) alkoxide complexes. The structure of complex 8 has been determined by X-ray diffraction Reaction of [Rh(mu-OH)(COD)](2) with t hiolaceticacid gives rise to a thioacetate complex [Rh(mu-SCOCH3)(COD)](2) (9).