Novel triosmium clusters derived from the reaction of [Os-3(CO)(10)(mu-dppm)] with 1-vinylimidazole

The reaction of [Os-3(CO)(10)(mu -dppm)] (1) with 1-vinylimidazole at 110 d egreesC afforded two novel trosmium compounds, [(mu -LH)Os-3(CO)(7)(mu -2,3 -eta (2)-C = NCH = CHNCH = CH2)(eta (1)-CH = NCH = CHN-CH = CH2)(mu (3)-eta (3)-PPhCH2PPh(C6H4))] (3) and [Os-3(CO)(8)(mu ,2,3-eta (2)-C = NCH = CHNCH = CH2)(eta (1)-CH = NCH = CHNCH = CH2)(mu (3)-eta (2)-PPhCH2PPh2)] (4). Th e compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, H-1 and P-31 (H-1) NMR and mass spectrometry together with an X-ray analysis for 3, whic h has a unique structure with a bridging hydride, an N-coordinated eta (1)- vinylimidazole, a dimetallated mu-eta (2)-vinylimidazolide and a mu (3)-eta (3)-PPhCH2PPh(C6H4) ligands. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.