Synthesis of metal carbonyl hydrides from metal carbonyls and hydrogen at atmospheric pressure

Abstract

The transition metal carbonyl hydrides H3Re3(CO)12, H4Re4(CO)12, H4Ru4(CO)12, and H4Os4(CO)12 have been formed in high yields and purity by treatment of the corresponding metal carbonyls [Re2(CO)10, Ru3(CO)12, and Os3(CO)12] at temperatures of 90–170° in hydrocarbon solvents with hydrogen at atmospheric pressure; similar conditions convert H2Ru4(CO)13 into H4Ru4(CO)12 and H2FeRu3(CO)13 into H4FeRu3(CO)12, a new but unstable species.