Synthetic studies of the reaction between aldehydes and the triosmium cluster [Os 3(CO) 10(NCMe) 2

Abstract

The reaction of [Os 3(CO) 10(NCMe) 2] ( 1) with aldehydes in refluxing cyclohexane affords the metal clusters [Os 3(CO) 10(μ-H)(COR)] ( 2, R = Me, Ph, CH 2Ph or C 6H 13) in ca. 50% yield. The compound 2 (R = CH 2Ph) undergoes hydrogenation under pressure to give the corresponding alcohol, while decarbonylation occurs in the presence of Me 3NO to give the Me 3N-substituted derivative [Os 3(CO) 9(NMe 3)(μ-H)(COCH 2Ph)] in 90% yield.