Alkyne-vinylidene coupling in the reactions of the alkyne complex Os3(μ-CO)(CO)9(μ3-Me3C2Me) with Me3SiC≡CR (R=Me, Bun). The structure and stereodynamic behavior of clusters Os3(CO)9{μ3-C(SiMe3)=C(Me)C=C(SiMe3)=C(Me)C=C(SiMe3)R} containing an osmacyclobutene moietycontaining an osmacyclobutene moiety

Reactions of the alkyne cluster Os₃(μ-CO)(CO)₉(μ₃-Me₃C₂Me) with alkynes Me₃SiC≡CR (R=Me, Buⁿ) in refluxing hexane result in the formation of clusters Os₃(CO)₉{μ₃-C(SiMe₃)=C(Me)C=C(SiMe₃)=C(Me)C=C(SiMe₃)R} (2a: R=Me;3a: R=Buⁿ). The dienediyl ligand in these complexes is formed by alkyne-vinylidene coupling, with vinylidene generated in the course of reaction from the alkyne molecule by the acetylene-vinylidene rearrangement involving a 1,2-shift of the Me₃Si group. The structure of cluster3a was determined by X-ray structural analysis. The dienediyl ligand is coordinated to three metal atoms of the cluster framework by two π-ethylene bonds with two osmium atoms and two σ-bonds with the third osmium atom with the formation of the osmacyclobutene moiety. The¹H and¹³C NMR study of¹³CO-enriched samples of clusters2a and3a revealed the stereochemical nonrigidity of these molecules due to the exchange of the hydrocarbon and carbonyl ligands.     

Protonation of Os3(μ-H)(CO)9(μ3-σ,η2-C≡C-R) clusters (R=CMe2OH,C(Me)=CH2)

Protonation of triosmium clusters Os₃(-H)(CO)₉(₃-,²-CC-R) (R=CMe₂OH, C(Me)=CH₂) affords a cationic complex containing a six-electron propargyl ligand which has been detected for the first time.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1144–1145, June, 1993.     

Reactions of Unsaturated Quinoline Triosmium Clusters [Os3(CO)9(μ3-η2-C9H5(4-R)N)(μ-H)] (R=Me or H) with Tetramethylthiourea: X-ray Structures of [Os3(CO)8(μ-η2-C9H5(4-Me)N)(η2-SC(NMe2NCH2Me)(μ-H)2] and [Os3(CO)9(μ-η2-C9H6N)(η1-SC(NMe2)2)(μ-H)]

Treatment of the electronically unsaturated 4-methylquinoline triosmium cluster $[\hbox{Os}_{3}\hbox{(CO)}_{9}(\upmu_3\hbox{-}\upeta^{2}\hbox{-}\hbox{C}_{9}\hbox{H}_{5} \hbox{(4-Me)N})(\upmu\hbox{-H})]$ (1) with tetramethylthiourea in refluxing cyclohexane at 81°C gave $[\hbox{Os}_{3}\hbox{(CO)}_{8}(\upmu\hbox{-}\upeta^{2}\hbox{-C}_{9}\hbox{H}_{5} \hbox{(4-Me)N})(\upeta^2\hbox{-SC}(\hbox{NMe}_2\hbox{NCH}_2\hbox{Me})(\upmu \hbox{-H})_2]$ (2) and $[\hbox{Os}_{3}\hbox{(CO)}_{9}(\upmu\hbox{-}\upeta^{2}\hbox{-C}_{9}\hbox{H}_{5}\hbox{(4-Me)N})(\upeta^1\hbox{-SC}(\hbox{NMe}_2)_2)(\upmu\hbox{-H})]$ (3). In contrast, a similar reaction of the corresponding quinoline compound $[\hbox{Os}_{3}\hbox{(CO)}_{9}(\upmu_{3}\hbox{-}\upeta^{2}\hbox{-C}_{9}\hbox{H}_{6}\hbox{N})(\upmu\hbox{-H})]$ (4) with tetramethylthiourea afforded $[\hbox{Os}_{3}\hbox{(CO)}_{9}(\upmu\hbox{-}\upeta^{2}\hbox{-C}_{9}\hbox{H}_{6}\hbox{N})(\upeta^{1}\hbox{-SC(NMe}_{2})_{2})(\upmu\hbox{-H)}]$ (5) as the only product. Compound 2 contains a cyclometallated tetramethylthiourea ligand which is chelating at the rear osmium atom and a quinolyl ligand coordinated to the Os₃ triangle via the nitrogen lone pair and the C(8) atom of the carbocyclic ring. In 3 and 5, the tetramethylthiourea ligand is coordinated at an equatorial site of the osmium atom, which is also bound to the carbon atom of the quinolyl ligand. Compounds 3 and 5 react with PPh₃ at room temperature to give the previously reported phosphine substituted products $[\hbox{Os}_{3}\hbox{(CO)}_{9}(\upmu \hbox{-}\upeta^{2}\hbox{-C}_{9}\hbox{H}_{5}\hbox{(4-Me)N)(PPh}_{3})(\upmu\hbox{-H)}]$ (6) and $[\hbox{Os}_{3}\hbox{(CO}_{9}(\upmu \hbox{-}\upeta^{2}\hbox{-C}_{9}\hbox{H}_{6}\hbox{N)(PPh}_{3})(\upmu\hbox{-H)}]$ (7) by the displacement of the tetramethylthiourea ligand.     

Synthesis and protonation of an OS3(μ-H)(CO)10(μ-σ,η2-C≡CCMe2OMe) cluster

Triosmium cluster Os₃(-H)(CO)₁₀(--²-CCC Me₂OMe) (1) was obtained by treating OS₃(-H)(-Cl)(CO)₁₀ with LiCCCMe₂OMe. The reaction of cluster1 with HBF₄ · Et₂O at –60 °C leads to the cationic complex [Os₃(-H)(CO)₁₀(-,,²-C=C=C Me₂)]⁺BF₄ ^– (2) with an allenylidene ligand. The^s1H and¹³C NMR spectra of complex2 reveal the temperature dependence caused by migration of hydrocarbon and carbonyl ligands. Thermodynamic parameters were obtained for be exchange process of the allenylidene ligand.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp, 2990–2992, December, 1996.     

Reactions of Triruthenium Clusters with Quinolines: X-Ray Structures of [Ru3(μ-CO)(CO)7{μ3-η2-P(C6H5)CH2P(C6H5)2)}{μ-η2-C9H5(CH3)N}] and [Ru3(CO)10(μ-H){μ-η2-C9H6N}]

The reactions of [Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ-dppm)] 4 with quinolines afforded [Ru₃ (μ-CO)(CO)₇{μ₃-η²-P(C₆H₅)CH₂P(C₆H₅)₂)}{μ-η²-C₉H₅(R)N}] (8, R = 4-Me; 9, R = H) as the major products along with small amounts of known compound [Ru₃(CO)₉{μ₃-η³-P(C₆H₅)CH₂P(C₆H₅)(C₆H₄)}] 5. The molecular structure of 8 has been determined by single crystal X-ray studies. The reaction of 5 with 4-methylquinoline in refluxing cyclohexane afforded 8 and two known dinuclear compounds, [Ru₂(CO)₆{μ-CH₂P(C₆H₅)(C₆H₄)P(C₆H₅}] 10 and [Ru₂(CO)₆ {μ-(C₆H₄)P(C₆H₅)(CH₂)P(C₆H₅}] 11, in 40, 12, and 10% yields, respectively. The compounds 10 and 11 are also formed from the thermolysis of 4 in addition to the major compound 5. The solid state structure of the previously reported [Ru₃(CO)₁₀(η-H){μ-η²-C₉H₆N}] 2a is also reported for comparison.     

Comparison of the Bonding of Benzene and C60 to a Metal Cluster: Ru3(CO)9(μ3-η2,η 2,η2-C6H6) and Ru3(CO)9(μ3-η2,η2,η2-C60)

The electron distributions and bonding in Ru₃(CO)₉( ³- ², ², ²-C₆H₆) and Ru₃(CO)₉( ³- ², ², ²-C₆₀) are examined via electronic structure calculations in order to compare the nature of ligation of benzene and buckminsterfullerene to the common Ru₃(CO)₉ inorganic cluster. A fragment orbital approach, which is aided by the relatively high symmetry that these molecules possess, reveals important features of the electronic structures of these two systems. Reported crystal structures show that both benzene and C₆₀ are geometrically distorted when bound to the metal cluster fragment, and our ab initio calculations indicate that the energies of these distortions are similar. The experimental Ru–C_fullerene bond lengths are shorter than the corresponding Ru–C_benzene distances and the Ru–Ru bond lengths are longer in the fullerene-bound cluster than for the benzene-ligated cluster. Also, the carbonyl stretching frequencies are slightly higher for Ru₃(CO)₉( ³- ², ², ²-C₆₀) than for Ru₃(CO)₉( ³- ², ², ²-C₆H₆). As a whole, these observations suggest that electron density is being pulled away from the metal centers and CO ligands to form stronger Ru–C_fullerene than Ru–C_benzene bonds. Fenske-Hall molecular orbital calculations show that an important interaction is donation of electron density in the metal–metal bonds to empty orbitals of C₆₀ and C₆H₆. Bonds to the metal cluster that result from this interaction are the second highest occupied orbitals of both systems. A larger amount of density is donated to C₆₀ than to C₆H₆, thus accounting for the longer metal–metal bonds in the fullerene-bound cluster. The principal metal–arene bonding modes are the same in both systems, but the more band-like electronic structure of the fullerene (i.e., the greater number density of donor and acceptor orbitals in a given energy region) as compared to C₆H₆ permits a greater degree of electron flow and stronger bonding between the Ru₃(CO)₉ and C₆₀ fragments. Of significance to the reduction chemistry of M₃(CO)₉( ³- ², ², ²-C₆₀) molecules, the HOMO is largely localized on the metal–carbonyl fragment and the LUMO is largely localized on the C₆₀ portion of the molecule. The localized C₆₀ character of the LUMO is consistent with the similarity of the first two reductions of this class of molecules to the first two reductions of free C₆₀. The set of orbitals above the LUMO shows partial delocalization (in an antibonding sense) to the metal fragment, thus accounting for the relative ease of the third reduction of this class of molecules compared to the third reduction of free C₆₀.     

Further studies on the taumerization of the hydrido (alkynyl) cluster Ru3Pt(μ-H) {μ4-ν2-C ≡ C1Bu} (CO)9(L2) to the vinylidene cluster Ru3Pt{μ4-ν2-C ≡ C(H)tBu} (CO)9(L2): X-ray structures of Ru3Pt(μ-H){μ4-ν2-C = C(H)tBu} (CO)9(L2); L2 = dppet,dppp, andS,S-dppb

The first order rate constants for the tautomerization of the hydrio(alkynyl) clusters Ru₃Pt(μ-H){μ₄-ν²-C ≡ C¹Bu}(CO)₉(L₂);1a: L₂ = dppe,1b; L₂ = dppet,1c; L₂ = dppp and1d; L₂ =S,S-dppb to the corresponding vinylidene clusters Ru₃Pt{μ₄-ν²-C = C(H)^tBu}(CO)₉(L₂)2 have been measured, and they follow the orser1d <1a <1b ～1c. The reactions involving1a and1d exhibit an inverse kinetic deuterium isotope effect. The structures of1b, 2b, 2c, and2d were determined by X-ray crystallography, and are compared with those of1a and2a which have been previously reported. Crystal data for1b, space groupPbca,a = 13.338(4) Å,b = 17.771(6) Å,c = 36.092(8) Å,Z = 8,R(R _w) = 0.059(0.058) for 2342 absorption corrected, observed data; for2b, space group P2₁/n,a = 10.566(2) Å,b = 20.234(5) Å,c = 20.270(3) Å,β = 96.11(1)°,Z = 4,R(R _w) = 0.043(0.053) for 5865 absorption corrected, observed data; for2c, space group P2₁/n,a = 14.211(5) Å,b = 19.534(2) Å,c = 15.870(2) Å,β = 100.81(2)°,Z = 4,R(R _w) = 0.055(0.031) for 6566 absorption corrected, observed data: for2d, space group P2₁2₁2₁,a = 12.309(4) Å,b = 19.047(6) Å,c = 19.206(4) Å,Z = 4,R(R _w) = 0.055(0.053) fpr 2151 absorption corrected, observed data. The fluxional behavior of1d and1e (which consists of two interconverting isomers) has been examined by variable temperature¹³C NMR spectroscopy and by³¹P EXSY.     

Displacement of benzene by an alkyne in a tetraosmium cluster; synthesis and structural characterisation of the novel cluster [H2Os4(CO)9(μ3-η2-Ph2C2)(η2-Ph2C2)]

The benzen ligand in [H₂Os₄(CO)₁₀(η⁶-C₆H₆)] is displaced in the reaction with Ph₂C₂ in the presence of Me₃NO/MeCN. The cluster produced has been characterised as [H₂Os₄(CO)₉(PH₂C₂)₂] spectroscopically, and an X-ray crystallographic study has shown that one of the diphenylacetylene ligands is coordinated to one metal atom in a η²-mode and donates four electrons.     

Heteronuclear (WFe) and homonuclear (FeFE) μ-alkylidene complexes of transition metals from mononuclear terminal carbene complexes. crystal structures of {WFe[μ-η1, η3-C(OCH2CH3)(CHCHCH3](CO)8} and [fe2{μ-η2,η3-C[OCH2CH3[CHC(OCH2CH3)(CH3]}(CO)6

The reactions of mononuclear carbene complexes of W and Fe of the type CO)_mMC(OR)(CH_2nCHCR′″ (M  = FE, W; m = 4 and 5; n = 0, 2, 3; R′, R″ = C, CH₃, OEt) with Fe(CO)₅ have been studied. In all cases the reaction leads to new hetero (WFe) or homo (FeFe) μ-alkylidene complexes, the position of the double bond depending strongly on n.     

Os3(CO)9(μ3-AsC6H4CH3)(μ3-C6H3CH3) synthesis and crystal structure

One of the products of the reaction of the activated cluster Os₃(CO)₁₁(NCMe) with As(p-tol)₃ in refluxing nonane has been shown by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic methods to be Os₃(CO)₉(μ₃-AsC₆H₄CH₃)(μ₃-C₆H₃CH₃), which contains a benzyne moiety bonded asymmetrically from one carbon to one osmium via a σ bond and from a second carbon to form a bridge between the remaining two osmium atoms.     

New triosmium–iridium clusters: Synthesis and molecular structure of [Os3Ir2(Cp1)2(μ-OH)(μ-CO)2(CO)8Cl] (1), [Os3IrCp1(μ-OH)(CO)10Cl] (2), [Os3IrCp1(μ-H)(μ-Cl)(η3,μ3-C5H2N(NH2)Br)(CO)9] (3) and [Os3IrCp1(μ-Cl)2(η2,μ3-C5H3N(NH)Br)(CO)7] (4)

The trinuclear osmium carbonyl cluster, [Os₃(CO)₁₀(MeCN)₂], is allowed to react with 1 equiv. of [IrCp¹Cl₂]₂ (Cp¹ = pentamethylcyclopentadiene) in refluxing dichloromethane to give two new osmium–iridium mixed-metal clusters, [Os₃Ir₂(Cp¹)₂(μ-OH)(μ-CO)₂(CO)₈Cl] (1) and [Os₃IrCp¹(μ-OH)(CO)₁₀Cl] (2), in moderate yields. In the presence of a pyridyl ligand, [C₅H₃N(NH₂)Br], however, the products isolated are different. Two osmium–iridium clusters with different coordination modes of the pyridyl ligand are afforded, [Os₃IrCp¹(μ-H)(μ-Cl)(η³,μ₃-C₅H₂N(NH₂)Br)(CO)₉] (3) and [Os₃IrCp¹(μ-Cl)₂ (η²,μ₃-C₅H₃N(NH)Br)(CO)₇] (4). All of the new compounds are characterized by conventional spectroscopic methods, and their structures are determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

New electron-deficient alkene and alkyne derivatives of Ru5(μ5-C)(CO)15: The syntheses and crystal structure analyses of Ru5(μ5-C)(CO)13 [C2H2(CO2Me)2] and Ru5(μ5-C)(CO)15 [C2(CO2Me)2]

Treatment of carbido cluster Ru₅(μ ₅-C)(CO)₁₅ with Me₃NO in acetonitrile solution followed by addition of dimethyl maleate or dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate affords new clusters Ru₅(μ ₅-C)(CO)₁₃[C₂H₂(CO₂Me)₂] (1) and Ru₅(μ ₅-C)(CO)₁₅[C₂(CO₂Me)₂] (2), respectively. Single crystal X-ray structural studies reveal that both complexes contain a wingtip-bridged butterfly pentametallic skeleton. In complex1 the maleate fragment is coordinated to one wingtip Ru atom through its carbon-carbon double bond and to the adjacent Ru atom by the formation of two O → Ru dative bonding interactions, while the acetylene dicarboxylate fragment in2 is best considered as acis-dimetallated alkene, linking one hinge Ru atom and the nearby Ru atom at the bridged position. Crystal data for1: space group P 4₂/n;a=20.199(6),c=13.941(3) Å,Z=8; finalR _F=0.025,R _w=0.026 for 3963 reflections withI>2σ(I). Crystal data for2: space group P2₁/n;a=9.634(3),b=20.062(6),c=17.372(5) Å,β=90.62(2)°,Z=4; finalR _F=0 033,R _w=0.036 for 4683 reflections withI>3σ(I).     

The Thermolysis of [Ru3(CO)12] in Cyclohexene: Synthesis and Charaterisation of the New Clusters [Ru3H2(CO)9(μ3-η1:η2:η1-C6H8)] and [Ru5(CO)12(μ4-η2-C6H8)(η4-C6H8)]

Thermolysis of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] in cyclohexene for 24 h affords the complexes [Ru(CO)₃(η⁴-C₆H₈)] (1), [Ru₃H₂(CO)₉(μ₂-η¹:η²:η¹-C₆H₈)] (2), [Ru₄(CO)₁₂(μ₄-C₆H₈)] (3) [Ru₄(CO)₉(μ₄-C₆H₈)(η⁶-C₆H₆)] (4a and 4b, two isomers) and [Ru₅(CO)₁₂(μ₄-η²-C₆H₈)(η⁴-C₆H₈)] (5), where 1, 3, 4a and 4b have been previously characterised as products of the thermolysis of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with cyclohexa-1,3-diene. The molecular structures of the new clusters 2 and 5 were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, showing that two conformational polymorphs of 5 exist in the solid state, differing in the orientation of the cyclohexa-1,3-diene ligand on a ruthenium vertex.     

The preparation of a series of ring-linked derivatives of [Fe2(η-C5H5)2(CO)2(μ-CO)2] starting from [Fe2η5,η5-C5H4CH(NMe3)CH(NMe2)C5H4}(CO)2(μ-CO)2]+ salts

The salts [Fe₂η⁵,η⁵-C₅H₄CH{NMe₃)CH(NMe₂)C₅H₄}(CO)₂(μ-CO)₂][X] (X = I or SO₃CF₃) are the synthetic precursors to a wide range of [Fe₂(η-C₅H₅)₂(CO)₂(μ-CO)₂] derivatives in which the two cyclopentadienyl ligands are joined by a two-carbon bridge.     

Preparation and reactivity of metal-containing monomers 53. Synthesis and stability of a cluster monomer (μ-H)Os3(μ-OCNMe2)(CO)9PPh2CH2CH=CH2 in solution

The stability of the complex (μ-H)Os₃(μ-OCNMe₂)(CO)₉PPh₂CH₂CH=CH₂ (1), which contains a free unsaturated functional group in the terminal ligand PPh₂CH₂CH=CH₂, with respect to isomerization, chelation of the ligand, and other transformations in solutions was examined. No transformations of complex1 were observed in the course of synthesis from (μ-H)Os₃(μ-OCNMe₂)(CO)₉NMe₃ or upon heating in solution. Complex1 as well as complexes (μ-H)Os₃(μ-OCNMe₂)(CO)₉PHPh₂ and (μ-H)Os₃(μ-OCNMe₂)(CO)₉PPh₃, which were formed as admixtures, were isolated in the solid state and identified by¹H,¹H-{³¹P}, and¹H-{¹H} NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. For Part 52, see Ref. 1. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1455–1460, August, 2000.     

Reactivity of the tethered alkyl uranium bonds of (η5:κ1-C5Me4SiMe2CH2)2U

Uranium-carbon bond reactivity has been investigated with the bis(tethered silylalkyl) uranium metallocene (η⁵:κ¹-C₅Me₄SiMe₂CH₂)₂U, 1. Tert-butyl nitrile, ^tBuCN, inserts into both of the tethered U-C bonds to produce the bis(tethered ketimide) complex [η⁵:κ¹-C₅Me₄SiMe₂CH₂C(^tBu)N]₂U, 2, which has unusually bent U-N-C bond angles. Carbon dioxide also inserts into both U-C bonds of 1 yielding the bis(tethered carboxylate) (C₅Me₄SiMe₂CH₂CO₂)₂U, 3. Neither PhCCPh nor PhCCH insert into the U-C bonds, but PhCCH cleaves the silylalkyl tethers in 1 to generate (C₅Me₄SiMe₃)^1? ligands in the complex (C₅Me₄SiMe₃)₂U(CCPh)₂, 4.     

Synthesis of the dimetal compounds [FeW{μ-PPh2 · CH · CH2 C(C6H4Me-4)}(CO)5(η5-C5Me5)] and [FeMo{μ-PPh2 · CH · CH2 · C(C6H4Me-4)}(CO)5(η5-C5H5)]; molecular structure of the iron-tungsten compound

Reactions between diphenyl(vinyl)phosphine and the compounds [FeW(μ-CC₆H₄Me-4)(CO)₅(η⁵-C₅Me₅)] and [FeMo(μ-CC₆H₄Me-4)(CO)₆(η⁵-C₅H₅)] result in a coupling of the vinyl and p-tolylmethylidyne groups at the dimetal centres to produce the PPh₂ · CH · CH₂ · C(C₆H₄Me-4) fragment, which bridges the metal-metal bonds. This was confirmed by an X-ray diffraction study on [FeW{μ-PPh₂ · CH · CH₂ · C(C₆H₄Me-4)}(CO)₅(η⁵-C₅Me₅)].     

Synthesis and reactions of phosphido-bridged μ3-alkylidyne clusters; X-ray crystal structures of the complexes [Co2W(μ-PEt2)3(CO)5(η-C5H5)], [Co2W{μ3-C(R)C(Et)C(Et)C(O)}(μ-CO)(CO)4(PPh2{C(Et)CHEt})(η-C5H5)], and [CoW{μ-C(R)C(Et)C(Et)C(OH)}(CO)4(η-C5H5)] (R = C6H4Me-4)

Reactions of the phosphido-bridged complexes [Co₂W(μ-H)(μ₃-CC₆H₄Me-4)(μ-PR₂)(CO)₆(η-C₅H₅)] (R = Ph or Et) with PR₂H (R = Ph or Et) or RCCR (R = Me or Et) are dominated by processes involving facile PC, CC and CH bond formation. The X-ray structures of the complexes [Co₂W(μ-PEt₂)₃(CO)₅(η-C₅H₅)], [Co₂W{μ₃-C(R)C(Et)C(Et)C(O)}(μ-CO)(CO)₄(PPh₂{C(Et)CHEt})(η-C₅H₅)], and [CoW{μ-C(R)C(Et)C(Et)C(OH)}(CO)₄(η-C₅H₅)] (R = C₆H₄Me-4) have been determined.     

Unexpected Carbon–Carbon Bond Cleavage in the Reactions of the Pentagonal Bipyramidal Cluster Fe3(CO)6(μ-CO)2[μ3-η4-{RCC(Et)C(Et)CR}] with Styrene. Synthesis and X-ray Structure of Fe3(CO)6[μ3-η4-{EtC2CR}]2 (R = CH3(=CH2))

The thermal reactions of 2-methyl-1-hexen-3-yne [CH₃CH₂C≡CC(=CH₂)CH₃, metey] with Fe₃(CO)₁₂ have been studied: cluster opening or fragmentation and alkyne dimerization occur. Main products are the open triangular isomers [Fe₃(CO)₆(μ-CO)₂{CH₃(=CH₂)CC(Et)C(Et)C(=CH₂)CH₃}] (complex 3a) and [Fe₃(CO)₆(μ-CO)₂{C(Et)CCH₃(=CH₂)C(Et)CCH₃(=CH₂)}] (complex 3b). The structure and isomerism of the complexes has been confirmed by X-ray studies. The minor products of the reaction have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques. An attempt at exploiting the reactivity of the “free” C=C bonds of the coordinated ene-yne was made: complex 3a was reacted with styrene under thermal conditions. Unexpectedly considerable yields of the closed triangular cluster [Fe₃(CO)₆{EtC₂C(=CH₂)CH₃}₂] (complex 5) have been obtained. This behaviour had not been previously observed. The unprecedented structure of complex 5 has been confirmed with an X-ray study.