Rotation Of Ligand Research Articles

Bridging Hydride at Reduced H-Cluster Species in [FeFe]-Hydrogenases Revealed by Infrared Spectroscopy, Isotope Editing, and Quantum Chemistry.

[FeFe]-Hydrogenases contain a H2-converting cofactor (H-cluster) in which a canonical [4Fe-4S] cluster is linked to a unique diiron site with three carbon monoxide (CO) and two cyanide (CN-) ligands (e.g., in the oxidized state, Hox). There has been much debate whether reduction and hydrogen binding may result in alternative rotamer structures of the diiron site in a single (Hred) or double (Hsred) reduced H-cluster species. We employed infrared spectro-electrochemistry and site-selective isotope editing to monitor the CO/CN- stretching vibrations in [FeFe]-hydrogenase HYDA1 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Density functional theory calculations yielded vibrational modes of the diatomic ligands for conceivable H-cluster structures. Correlation analysis of experimental and computational IR spectra has facilitated an assignment of Hred and Hsred to structures with a bridging hydride at the diiron site. Pronounced ligand rotation during μH binding seems to exclude Hred and Hsred as catalytic intermediates. Only states with a conservative H-cluster geometry featuring a μCO ligand are likely involved in rapid H2 turnover.

Functional Versatility of a Series of Zr Metal-Organic Frameworks Probed by Solid-State Photoluminescence Spectroscopy.

Many of the desirable properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can be tuned by chemical functionalization of the organic ligands that connect their metal clusters into multidimensional network solids. When these linker molecules are intrinsically fluorescent, they can pass on this property to the resultant MOF, potentially generating solid-state sensors, as analytes can be bound within their porous interiors. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of 14 interpenetrated Zr and Hf MOFs linked by functionalized 4,4'-[1,4-phenylene-bis(ethyne-2,1-diyl)]-dibenzoate (peb2-) ligands, and we analyze the effect of functional group incorporation on their structures and properties. Addition of methyl, fluoro, naphthyl, and benzothiadiazolyl units does not affect the underlying topology, but induces subtle structural changes, such as ligand rotation, and mediates host-guest interactions. Further, we demonstrate that solid-state photoluminescence spectroscopy can be used to probe these effects. For instance, introduction of naphthyl and benzothiadiazolyl units yields MOFs that can act as stable fluorescent water sensors, a dimethyl modified MOF exhibits a temperature dependent phase change controlled by steric clashes between interpenetrated nets, and a tetrafluorinated analogue is found to be superhydrophobic despite only partial fluorination of its organic backbone. These subtle changes in ligand structure coupled with the consistent framework topology give rise to a series of MOFs with a remarkable range of physical properties that are not observed with the ligands alone.

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding Restricts Gd-Aqua-Ligand Dynamics.

Aqua ligands can undergo rapid internal rotation about the M-O bond. For magnetic resonance contrast agents, this rotation results in diminished relaxivity. Herein, we show that an intramolecular hydrogen bond to the aqua ligand can reduce this internal rotation and increase relaxivity. Molecular modeling was used to design a series of four Gd complexes capable of forming an intramolecular H-bond to the coordinated water ligand, and these complexes had anomalously high relaxivities compared to similar complexes lacking a H-bond acceptor. Molecular dynamics simulations supported the formation of a stable intramolecular H-bond, while alternative hypotheses that could explain the higher relaxivity were systematically ruled out. Intramolecular H-bonding represents a useful strategy to limit internal water rotational motion and increase relaxivity of Gd complexes.

Enhancing Thermal Stability and Living Fashion in α-Diimine–Nickel-Catalyzed (Co)polymerization of Ethylene and Polar Monomer by Increasing the Steric Bulk of Ligand Backbone

Development of thermally stable nickel-based catalysts is highly desirable for industrial gas-phase olefin polymerizations. On the basis of the strategy of promoting the thermostability of nickel catalyst by the ligand backbone, we herein reported novel dibenzobarrelene-derived α-diimine nickel precatalysts for ethylene polymerization. Increasing the steric bulk on the ligand backbone was expected to inhibit the N-aryl rotation of the α-diimine ligands by the repulsive interactions, thus enhancing thermal stability (100 °C) and living fashion a temperatures up to 80 °C. Bulk ligand backbone also improved tolerance of nickel catalyst toward polar groups, and the α-diimine nickel catalyst containing a 2,6-tBu-dibenzobarrelene backbone catalyzed living copolymerization of ethylene and methyl 10-undecenoate.

Thermochromic Fluorescence from B18H20(NC5H5)2: An Inorganic–Organic Composite Luminescent Compound with an Unusual Molecular Geometry

B18H20(NC5H5)2 is a rare example of two conjoined boron hydride subclusters of nido and arachno geometrical character. At room temperature, solutions of B18H20(NC5H5)2 emit a 690 nm fluorescence. In the solid state, this emission is shifted to 620 nm and intensifies due to restriction of the rotation of the pyridine ligands. In addition, there is a thermochromicity to the fluorescence of B18H20(NC5H5)2. Cooling to 8 K engenders a further shift in the emission wavelength to 585 nm and a twofold increase in intensity. Immobilization in a polystyrene thin‐film matrix results in an efficient absorption of pumping excitation energy at 414 nm and a 609 nm photostable fluorescence. Such fluorescence from polystyrene thin films containing B18H20(NC5H5)2 can also be stimulated by emission from the highly fluorescent borane anti‐B18H22 via energy transfer mechanisms. Polystyrene thin‐film membranes doped with 1:1 mixtures of anti‐B18H22 and B18H20(NC5H5)2 thus emit a 609 nm fluorescence and absorb light across more than 300 nm (250–550 nm); this is a significant spectral coverage possibly useful for luminescent solar concentrators. B18H20(NC5H5)2 is fully structurally characterized using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, and its ground‐state and excited‐state photophysics are investigated with UV–vis spectroscopy and quantum‐chemistry computational methods.

Induced Aggregation of AIE-Active Mono-Cyclometalated Ir(III) Complex into Supramolecular Branched Wires for Light-Emitting Diodes.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is commonly observed in irregular bulk form. Herein, unique aggregation properties of an AIE-active complex into branched supramolecular wires are reported for the first time. Mono-cyclometalated Ir(III) complex shows in-plane J-aggregation at the air-water interface owing to the restriction of intramolecular vibration of bidentate phenylpyridinato and intramolecular rotations of monodentate triphenylphosphine ligands at air-water interface. As a consequence, a large enhancement of luminescence comparable to the solid state is obtained from the monolayers of supramolecular wires. This unique feature is utilized for the fabrication of light-emitting diodes with low threshold voltage using supramolecular wires as active layer. This study opens up the need of ordered assembly of AIE complexes to achieve optimal luminescence characteristics.

Dynamic Flexibility of Hydrogenase Active Site Models Studied with 2D-IR Spectroscopy.

Hydrogenase enzymes enable organisms to use H2 as an energy source, having evolved extremely efficient biological catalysts for the reversible oxidation of molecular hydrogen. Small-molecule mimics of these enzymes provide both simplified models of the catalysis reactions and potential artificial catalysts that might be used to facilitate a hydrogen economy. We have studied two diiron hydrogenase mimics, μ-pdt-[Fe(CO)3]2 and μ-edt-[Fe(CO)3]2 (pdt = propanedithiolate, edt = ethanedithiolate), in a series of alkane solvents and have observed significant ultrafast spectral dynamics using two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy. Since solvent fluctuations in nonpolar alkanes do not lead to substantial electrostatic modulations in a solute's vibrational mode frequencies, we attribute the spectral diffusion dynamics to intramolecular flexibility. The intramolecular origin is supported by the absence of any measurable solvent viscosity dependence, indicating that the frequency fluctuations are not coupled to the solvent motional dynamics. Quantum chemical calculations reveal a pronounced coupling between the low-frequency torsional rotation of the carbonyl ligands and the terminal CO stretching vibrations. The flexibility of the CO ligands has been proposed to play a central role in the catalytic reaction mechanism, and our results highlight that the CO ligands are highly flexible on a picosecond time scale.

A Ligand-Dissociation-Involved Mechanism in Amide Formation of Monofluoroacylboronates with Hydroxylamines

Acylborons, as a growing class of boron reagents, were successfully applied to amide ligation and showed potential in chemoselective bioconjugation reactions in recent years. In this manuscript, a density functional theory (DFT) study was performed to investigate the mechanism of the amide formation between monofluoroacylboronates and hydroxylamines. An updated pathway was clarified herein, including water-assisted hemiaminal formation, pyridine ligand dissociation, elimination via a six-membered-ring transition state, and water-assisted tautomerization. The proposed mechanism was further examined by applying it to investigate the activation barriers of other monofluoroacylboronates, and the related calculations well reproduced the experimentally reported relative reactivities. On the basis of these results, we found that the ortho substitution of the pyridine ligand destabilizes the acylboron substrates and the hemiaminal intermediates by steric effects and thus lowers the energy demand of the ligand dissociation and elimination steps. By contrast, the para substitution of the pyridine ligand with an electron-donating group enhances the coordination of the ligand by electronic effects, which is a disadvantage to the ligand dissociation and elimination steps. The ligand bearing a rigid linkage blocks the rotation of the pyridine ligand and makes ligand dissociation difficult.

Unusual Aggregation/Gelation‐Induced Phosphorescence of Propeller‐Type Binuclear Platinum(II) Enantiomers

Three binuclear cyclometalated PtII complexes, [(ppy)Pt(µ‐SA)Pt(ppy)] (ppy = 2‐phenylpyridine, SA: salicylaldehyde azine), have been synthesized and characterized. Owing to the blockage of the intramolecular rotation of the bridging SA ligands, all three complexes exhibit propeller‐type enantiomers and aggregation‐induced phosphorescence (AIP). Interestingly, one complex with –NEt2 groups instead of long alkyl chains, amide, urea peptides, cholesterol, sugar, or steroidal groups was found to show strong phosphorescence enhancement gated by the gelation process. This unusual gelation behavior is rarely encountered, as the metallogel has no intermolecular hydrogen bonding or Pt–Pt interactions. We attribute the driving force of this gelation‐induced phosphorescence (GIP) to the propeller‐type structure, optimally balanced solubility of –NEt2 groups, enantiomer‐induced π–π stacking interactions, and strong multiple intermolecular H–C, H–O, and H–H interactions.

Butterfly Deformation Modes in a Photoexcited Pyrazolate-Bridged Pt Complex Measured by Time-Resolved X-Ray Scattering in Solution.

Pyrazolate-bridged dinuclear Pt(II) complexes represent a series of molecules with tunable absorption and emission properties that can be directly modulated by structural factors, such as the Pt-Pt distance. However, direct experimental information regarding the structure of the emissive triplet excited state has remained scarce. Using time-resolved wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), the excited triplet state molecular structure of [Pt(ppy)(μ-t-Bu2pz)]2 (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine; t-Bu2pz = 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolate), complex 1, was obtained in a dilute (0.5 mM) toluene solution utilizing the monochromatic X-ray pulses at Beamline 11IDD of the Advanced Photon Source. The excited-state structural analysis of 1 was performed based on the results from both transient WAXS measurements and density functional theory calculations to shed light on the primary structural changes in its triplet metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MMLCT) state, in particular, the Pt-Pt distance and ligand rotation. We found a pronounced Pt-Pt distance contraction accompanied by rotational motions of ppy ligands toward one another in the MMLCT state of 1. Our results suggest that the contraction is larger than what has previously been reported, but they are in good agreement with recent theoretical efforts and suggest the ppy moieties as targets for rational synthesis aimed at tuning the excited-state structure and properties.

Ferroelectric Coordination Polymers Self-Assembled from Mesogenic Zinc(II) Porphyrin and Dipolar Bridging Ligands.

A new class of ferroelectric coordination-based polymers has been developed by the self-assembly of lipophilic zinc porphyrin (ZnP) and ditopic bridging ligands. The ligands contain dipolar benzothiadiazole or fluorobenzene units, which are axially coordinated to ZnP with the dipole moments oriented perpendicular to the coordination axes. The coordination-based polymers show ferroelectric characteristics in the liquid crystalline state, as revealed by distinctive hysteresis in the polarization-electric field (P-E) loops and inversion current peaks in current-voltage (I-V) loops. The observed ferroelectric properties are explainable by flip-flop rotation of the dipolar axle ligands induced by the applied electric field, as demonstrated by the positive-up-negative-down (PUND) measurements. The present system provides a new operating principle in supramolecular ferroelectrics.

2-(Methylamido)pyridine-Borane: A Tripod κ(3)-N,H,H Ligand in Trigonal Bipyramidal Rhodium(I) and Iridium(I) Complexes with an Asymmetric Coordination of Its BH3 Group.

The complexes [M(κ(3)-N,H,H-mapyBH3)(cod)] (M = Rh, Ir; HmapyBH3 = 2-(methylamino)pyridine-borane; cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene), which contain a novel anionic tripod ligand coordinated to the metal atom through the amido N atom and through two H atoms of the BH3 group, were prepared by treating the corresponding [M2(μ-Cl)2(cod)2] (M = Rh, Ir) precursor with K[mapyBH3]. X-ray diffraction studies and a theoretical Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules analysis of their electron density confirmed that the metal atoms of both complexes are in a very distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination environment, in which two equatorial sites are asymmetrically spanned by the H-B-H fragment. While both 3c-2e BH-M interactions are more κ(1)-H (terminal σ coordination of the B-H bond) than κ(2)-H,B (agostic-type coordination of the B-H bond), one BH-M interaction is more agostic than the other, and this difference is more marked in the iridium complex than in the rhodium one. This asymmetry is not evident in solution, where the cod ligand and the BH3 group of these molecules participate in two concurrent dynamic processes of low activation energies (variable-temperature NMR and density functional theory studies), namely, a rotation of the cod ligand that interchanges its two alkene fragments (through a square pyramidal transition state) and a rotation of the BH3 group about the B-N bond that equilibrates the three B-H bonds (through a square planar transition state). While the cod rotation has similar activation energy in 2 and 3, the barrier to the BH3 group rotation is higher in the iridium complex than in the rhodium one.

Multiple Weak C–H Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding as an Aid to Minimizing Bond Rotation Flexibility

The presence of 14 intramolecular interactions relevant to bond rotational flexibility in coordination compounds important in the context of crystal engineering were identified by density functional theory calculations in the crystal structure of the highly crystalline oxoimido complex [Mo(NC6H4CMe3-2)(O)Cl2(bipy)] (1). A combination of computational techniques including noncovalent interaction index properties and Quantum Theory of Atoms analysis which are based on the computed electron density as well as natural bond orbitals analysis, were used to uncover the nature of the interactions. Weakly stabilizing intramolecular interactions involving electrostatic contributions were found for O····HC, N····HC, and CH····HC, close separations involving the bipy ligand where coordination does not allow flexibility and for O····HC, N····HC, Cl····HC, CH····HC, and C····HC close contacts where C–N and C–C rotations of the imido ligand would allow flexibility. Partial covalency is not a significant feature of these...

Correction to "Pyridine Ligand Rotation in Self-Assembled Trigonal Prisms. Evidence for Intracage Solvent Vapor Bubbles".

T solvent vapor bubble formation inside a self-assembled molecular cage reported as a result of UFF molecular dynamics simulations cannot be reproduced using the current version of the TINK code. It is only observed with a code version containing two programming errors that affect results for the highly positively charged molecular cage with counterions, and all other results obtained with the TINK code appear correct. The errors are the following: (i) The charge equilibration procedure that was used iteratively to estimate the atomic charges did not converge to the requested total charge of 0 e but to a total charge of +12 e. (ii) In certain instances the pair listing algorithm omitted some interactions and doubled others. The erroneous result suggested a possible explanation of experimental observations, but more recent results showed that the cage is filled with solvent, in agreement with correctly performed UFF molecular simulations. We are grateful to Dr. Jin Wen for drawing our attention to the problem.

Nucleotide Binding Preference of the Monofunctional Platinum Anticancer-Agent Phenanthriplatin.

The monofunctional platinum anticancer agent phenanthriplatin generates covalent adducts with the purine bases guanine and adenine. Preferential nucleotide binding was investigated by using a polymerase stop assay and linear DNA amplification with a 163-base pair DNA double helix. Similarly to cisplatin, phenanthriplatin forms the majority of adducts at guanosine residues, but significant differences in both the number and position of platination sites emerge when comparing results for the two complexes. Notably, the monofunctional complex generates a greater number of polymerase-halting lesions at adenosine residues than does cisplatin. Studies with 9-methyladenine reveal that, under abiological conditions, phenanthriplatin binds to the N(1) or N(7) position of 9-methyladenine in approximately equimolar amounts. By contrast, comparable reactions with 9-methylguanine afforded only the N(7) -bound species. Both of the 9-methyladenine linkage isomers (N(1) and N(7) ) exist as two diastereomeric species, arising from hindered rotation of the aromatic ligands about their respective platinum-nitrogen bonds. Eyring analysis of rate constants extracted from variable-temperature NMR spectroscopic data revealed that the activation energies for ligand rotation in the N(1) -bound platinum complex and the N(7) -linkage isomers are comparable. Finally, a kinetic analysis indicated that phenanthriplatin reacts more rapidly, by a factor of eight, with 9-methylguanine than with 9-methyladenine, suggesting that the distribution of lesions formed on double-stranded DNA is kinetically controlled. In addition, implications for the potent anticancer activity of phenanthriplatin are discussed herein.

Designing Sequence Selectivity into a Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Catalyst.

The development of a chemoselective catalyst for the sequence-selective copolymerization of two cycloolefins by ring-opening metathesis polymerization is described, starting with the mechanistic work that established the structure of the key metallacyclobutane intermediate. Experimental and computational investigations converged to a conclusion that the lowest energy metallacyclobutane intermediate in the ruthenium carbene-catalyzed metathesis reaction had the four-membered ring trans to the phosphine or NHC ligand. The trans-metallacyclobutane structure, for the case of a degenerate metathesis reaction catalyzed by a Grubbs first-generation complex, necessitated a rotation of the 3-fold symmetric tricyclohexylphosphine ligand, with respect to the 2-fold symmetric metallacyclobutane substructure. The degeneracy could be lifted by constraining the rotation. Lifting the degeneracy created the possibility of chemoselectivity. This mechanistic work led to a concept for the "tick-tock" catalyst for a chemoselective, alternating copolymerization of cyclooctene and norbornene from a mixture of the two monomers. The design concept could be post facto elaborated in terms of stereochemistry and topological theory, both viewpoints providing deeper insight into the design of selectivity into the catalytic reaction. The iterative interaction of theory and experiment provided the basis for the rational design and optimization of a new selectivity into an existing catalytic system with decidedly modest structural modifications of the original carbene complex.

Photoinduced Reactions of Diruthenium Tetrahydride Complexes: Carbon–Hydrogen Bond Cleavage of Tetrahydrofuran Leading to Bridging Cyclic Fischer-Type Carbene Complexes

Photochemical reactions of diruthenium tetrahydride complexes containing cyclopentadienyls as auxiliary ligands, CpsRu(μ-H)4RuCps (1) (a: Cps = C5Me5 (Cp*), b: C5EtMe4 (CpEt), and c: 1,2,4-C5(t-Bu)3H2 (Cp‡)), with tetrahydrofuran were studied for elucidation of the reaction mode of dinuclear complexes containing multiple bridging hydrides. Complexes 1a–c reacted with tetrahydrofuran under UV irradiation (365 nm) to produce bridging cyclic Fischer-type carbene complexes, {CpsRu(μ-H)}2(μ-cyclo-CCH2CH2CH2O−)(μ-H)2 (5), via consecutive C–H bond cleavage at the α-position of the oxygen atom. The characteristic cyclic structures of the bridging carbene ligands were unambiguously confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. Line-shape analysis of the variable-temperature 1H NMR spectra of 5c demonstrated the rotation of the bridging carbene ligand.

Coordination and insertion of alkenes and alkynes in Au(III) complexes: nature of the intermediates from a computational perspective.

The contribution of Au(III) species to catalysis is still debated due to the limited number of characterized intermediates with this oxidation state. In particular, the coordination of alkenes and alkynes to Au(III) followed by insertion into Au(III)-X bonds has been suggested but rarely proven experimentally. Here, these reactions are explored by means of DFT and CCSD(T) calculations considering [AuX3(L)] and [AuX2(L)2](+) complexes. In these complexes, L = ethylene and acetylene have been chosen as substrates of high interest and representative of any unsaturated organic substrate, whereas X is Cl, Me or H, as found in metal salts and as model for intermediates involved in catalysis. Isoelectronic Pt(II) complexes are also considered for comparison. Ethylene coordination occurs preferentially perpendicular for all X except H, whereas for acetylene, coordination takes place in-plane for all X except Cl. These coordination isomers can represent either minima (intermediates) or saddle points (transition states) on the potential energy surface, depending on X. NBO analysis shows how this variety of structures results from the combination of electronic (M-L donation and back-donation) and steric (cis L-X repulsion) effects. With the sole exception of [AuMe2(ethylene)2](+), rotation of the unsaturated ligand and insertion into a cis Au-X bond involve low to moderate energy barriers, ΔG(‡) = 2.5 to 23.5 kcal mol(-1), and are thermodynamically feasible, ΔG = 4.3 to -47.2 kcal mol(-1). The paucity of experimental observations for such reactions should thus be caused by other factors, like the participation of the intermediates and products in competitive side reactions including the reductive elimination of XCHnCHnX (n = 1 or 2).

Diverse Rotational Flexibility of Substituted Dicarboxylate Ligands in Functional Porous Coordination Polymers

The radical polymerization in the channels of porous coordination polymers (PCPs) composed of different dicarboxylate ligands has been reported as a promising approach to control the tacticity of product polymers. However, it is still elusive how the different ligands contribute to control the tacticity. Here we anticipate an important role of the rotation of the dicarboxylate ligands in the control and have investigated the geometrical structure, stability, potential energy curves, and rotational energy barriers of the rotational groups of a series of PCPs considering a model system. Both the dispersion-uncorrected and -corrected density functional theory methods with the correlation consistent double-ζ quality basis set have been applied. We have revealed the ligand-dependent equilibrium planar and nonplanar structures and a wide range of rotational barriers, from rigid 57.74 to flexible 10.45 kJ mol–1. By fitting the force field parameters of the dicarboxylate ligands to the obtained rotational behavio...

Diphosphorus-bridged heterometallic anions and hydrides derived from reactions of complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-PCy2)(μ-κ2:κ2-P2)(CO)2]− with precursors of 16-electron metal carbonyl fragments

Reaction of the Li+ salt of the title anion with [Fe2(CO)9] or tetrahydrofuran adducts of formula [MLn(THF)] gave the trinuclear species Li[Mo2MCp2(μ-PCy2)(μ-κ2:κ2:κ1-P2)(CO)2Ln], (MLn = Fe(CO)4, MnCp′(CO)2, Mo(CO)5, W(CO)5; Cp′ = η5-C5H4Me), some of which could be isolated as the corresponding PPN+ salts (PPN = N(PPh3)2). These products followed from further coordination of the P2 ligand to the incoming 16-electron MLn fragment via the lone electron pair at its basal P atom, and displayed characteristically high P–P couplings (1JPP ca. 500Hz) indicative of retention of a strong P–P bond. In addition, these products underwent a fluxional process derived from the swing of the P2 unit around the Mo–Mo axis with concomitant exchange of the MLn fragment between P atoms. Reaction of the title anion with excess of the above carbonyl complexes involved further addition of a second MLn fragment to the P atom still bearing a lone electron pair, thus leading to the tetranuclear anionic derivatives Li[Mo2M2Cp2(μ-PCy2)(μ-κ2:κ2:κ1:κ1-P2)(CO)2L2n], most of which could be isolated as the corresponding PPN+ salts. For the Mo and W derivatives, this reaction also involved a trans to cis isomerisation at the Mo2(CO)2 moiety of the parent anion. All tetranuclear anions displayed fluxional behaviour in solution, comparable to that of the parent anion in the case of the Fe and Mn derivatives, but likely involving rotation of the P2 ligand in the case of the cisoid Mo and W derivatives. Protonation of the above trinuclear anions with [NH4]PF6 led to decomposition except for the Mn complex, this yielding a poorly characterized diphosphenyl derivative [MnMo2Cp2Cp′(μ-κ1,η2:κ2:κ1-HP2)(μ-PCy2)(CO)4] displaying an agostic-like P–H–Mo interaction, eventually decomposing to the known phosphide-bridged complex [MnMo2Cp2Cp′(μ3-P)(μ-PCy2)(CO)4]. In contrast, protonation of the tetranuclear anions yielded the unsaturated hydride derivatives [Mo2M2Cp2(H)(μ-PCy2)(μ-κ2:κ2:κ1:κ1-P2)(CO)L2n], (M = Mn, Mo, W), with a formal intermetallic double bond (Mo–Mo = 2.7412(6) Å for the tungsten complex) as a result of loss of a CO ligand from the Mo2(CO)2 moiety after protonation, probably favoured by the presence of excess of adducts [MLn(THF)] in these reaction mixtures.