Modern aspects on tri- and tetranuclear cluster complexes supported by phosphido bridges

This report on small cluster complexes with metal-metal bonds in the field of coordination chemistry documents results in the following scientific are as. (1) Systematic synthetic routes via ditransition metal carbonyl derivat ive of manganese and rhenium (group 7) to functionalized triangulo- and tet rahedro-clusters including structural characterization, (2) Dynamic propert ies of mono; and diauration isomers like M-2(mu-AuPR3)(mu-PCyH)(CO)(8)/M-2( mu-H)(mu(3)-PCy(AuPR3))(CO)(8) (isomerization) and M-2(mu-AuPR3)(2)(mu(4)-P Cy)(CO)(8)/M-2(mu-AuPR3)(mu-PCy(AuPR3))(CO)(8) (M = Mn, Re; R = organic res idue) (rearrangement and valence isomerization) and MM'(mu-H)(mu-PCy2)(mu(4 )-PCy(AuPR3))(CO)(6) (M = M', M not equal M') (topomerization) going from o ne to the other homologue and the kinetic study of isomerization in the fra mework Re-2(AuPCy3)(2)(mu-PMeN2(mu-C(Bu)O)(CO)(6), (3) Correlations of chir ality transfer in diastereomeric tetrahedro-clusters Re-2((MPR3)-P-1)(2)(mu -PCy2)(CO)(7)(eta(1)-L*) (M-1 = coin metals, L* = chiral ligand as (+) or ( -) prolinate, for example) from CD data. These selected contributions will be discussed to answer the question "Do small cluster complexes remain as a future challenge in cluster chemistry?".