Mixed-metal cluster chemistry. 26 . Proclivity for “all-terminal” or “plane-of-bridging-carbonyls” ligand disposition in tungsten-triiridium clusters

Reaction of WH(CO)₃(η-C₅Me₅) with IrCl(CO)₂(4-H₂NC₆H₄Me) affords WIr₃(μ-CO)₃(CO)₈(η-C₅Me₅) in low yield. A structural study reveals a WIr₂-centred plane of bridging carbonyls, in contrast to the crystal structure of WIr₃(CO)₁₁(η-C₅H₅) (all-terminal carbonyl distribution). DFT calculations reveal an increasing proclivity to adopt an all-terminal CO disposition for clusters MIr₃(CO)₁₁(η-C₅H₅) in the gas phase on proceeding from M=Cr to Mo and then W, consistent with structural studies in the solid state for which the tungsten-containing cluster is the only all-terminal example. Increasing electron donation from the ligands in the tungsten system (either from phosphine substitution or cyclopentadienyl permethylation) suffices to impose a plane of bridging carbonyls in the ground state structure. ¹³C NMR fluxionality studies reveal that CO exchange mechanism(s) for WIr₃(CO)₁₁(η-C₅H₅) and the related tetrahedral cluster W₂Ir₂(CO)₁₀(η-C₅H₅)₂ are very fast and involve all carbonyls on the clusters. DFT calculations on MIr₃(CO)₁₁(η-C₅H₅) (M=Cr, Mo) substantiate a ‘merry-go-round’ mechanism for carbonyl scrambling in these systems, a result which is consistent with the scrambling behaviour seen in the NMR fluxionality studies on the W-containing congener.