Controlling the molecular architecture of low nuclearity rhodium and iridium complexes using bridging N-C-X (X = Pd, O, S) ligands

The controlled synthesis of low nuclearity rhodium and iridium complexes by using bridging ligands containing N-C-X or X-C-N-C-X (X = N, O, S) groups is reviewed. The geometry and electronic characteristics of these N-C-X lig ands allow the incorporation of a wide variety of additional metals and per mit the preparation of several types of polynuclear complexes which frequen tly exhibit unusual molecular architectures and chemical reactivities. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.