[Re5(μ-H)4(CO)20]− and [Re5(μ-H)5(CO)20], Two Isolobal Analogues of Cyclopentane

The first five-membered rings of metal atoms connected by M–M or M-H-M bonds only have been obtained by a Re₂+Re₃ condensation in which a polyhydride acts as a bridging bidentate ligand toward a coordinatively unsaturated fragment (see scheme below). In spite of the octahedral coordination of the Re centers, the Re₅ rings display conformations (twisted and envelope) comparable with those observed for organic five-membered rings of tetrahedral carbon atoms.     

Heterometallatom-Koordinationsverbindungen Re2(μ-PPh2)2[mer-(CO)3]2-trans-[InX2(H2O)]2 und neue halogenhaltige drei- und vierkernige Rheniumcluster aus Reaktionen zwischen Re2[μ-PPh2)2(CO)8] und InX3 (X = Cl,Br, I)

Heterometallic Coordination Compounds Re₂(μ-PPh₂)₂[mer-(CO)₃]₂-trans-[InX₂(H₂O)]₂ and New Halogene Containing Three- and Four-Nuclear Rhenium Clusters from Reactions between Re₂(μ-PPh₂)₂(CO)₈ and InX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) In sealed glass tubes equimolar amounts of Re₂(μ-PPh₂)₂(CO)₈ and InX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) were reacted in the presence of xylene at 220°C to two types of products. The first type comprised the heterometallic coordination compounds Re₂(μ-PPh₂)₂(CO)₆[InX₂(H₂O)]₂ (X = Cl, Br, I) (yield 60%), and the second halogene containing rhenium complexes Re₃(μ₃-H)(μ₃-X)(μ-PPh₂)₃(CO)₆ (unsaturated three-membered metal ring with 46 VE) and Re₄(μ-H)(μ-X)(μ-PPh₂)₄(μ₄-PPh)(CO)₈ and additionally those substances as cis-IRe(CO)₄(PPh₂H), Re₂(μ-PPh₂)(μ-X)(CO)₈ (X = Cl, Br), Re₂(μ-I)₂[μ-(PPh₂)₂O](CO)₆ and Re₄(μ-Cl)₂(μ-PPh₂)₄(μ₄-PPh)(CO)₈ (four-membered metal ring with 66 VE with three Re? Re bonds) which have been observed in one or two of the three reaction systems. A proposal of the reaction course is discussed. The single X-ray analysis of Re₂(μ-PPh₂)₂[mer(CO)₃]₂-trans[InI₂(H₂O)]₂ · 2 Me₂CO shows for the two fold phosphido bridged dirhenium molecular fragment with 34 VE a Re? Re bond of 294.6(1) pm. From two possible transpositions of both In? Re bond vectors, the one found advantageously has sterical reasons. The average In? Re single bond length is 271.1(1) pm. The corresponding determination of the unsaturated three-membered ring compound Re₃(μ₃-H) (μ₃-Cl)(μ-PPh₂)₃(CO)₆ showed three Re? Re bond lenghts of comparable size, of which the mean value of 281.9(1) pm was significantly shortened by π electron delocalization effect compared to that of a saturated phosphido bridged three-membered rhenium ring compound. As it was recognized by further comparison, the structural data of the common molecular fragments in the three examined three-membered rhenium ring clusters (X = Cl, Br, I) are not dependent on the different kind of halogeno ligand atoms. Finally, the crystal structure determination of the substance Re₄(μ-H)(μ-Br)(μ-PPh₂)₄(μ₄-PPh)(CO)₈ shows the presence of square-pyramidal Re₄(μ₄-P) atomic arrangement, of which the planar basic plane has a sequence of up- and downwards orientated four diphenylphosphido bridging groups. The four measured Re? Re single bond lengths (mean value 302.7(3) pm change with the different kind of bridging atoms. The structural features observed are compared with those of a corresponding iodine derivative.