Metallation of 2-methyl-2-thiazoline at a triosmium cluster: X-ray structure of [(mu-H)Os-3(CO)(10)(mu-eta(2)-CH2C=NCH2CH2S)]

The reaction of [Os-3(CO)(10)(MeCN)(2)] with 2-methyl-2-thiazoline at ambie nt temperature results in the C-H activation of the methyl substituent of t he heterocyclic ligand and this gives the new compound [(mu-H)Os-3(CO)(10)( mu-eta(2)-CH2C=NCH2CH2S] (8) in 55% yield. Compound 8 undergoes decarbonyla tion and a further C-H bond activation by thermolysis at 98 degrees C or by treatment with trimethylamine-N-oxide to give the dihydrido cluster [(mu-H )(2)Os-3(CO)(9)(mu-eta(2)-CHC=NCH2CH2S] (9) in 45% yield. Both complexes ha ve been characterized by elemental analyses, IR and H-1 NMR spectroscopy, t ogether with X-ray crystallography for 8. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved.