Reactions of GeMe2-bridged dicyclopentadienes with molybdenum carbonyl: formation of germylidyne trimolybdenum clusters

In thermal reactions of the doubly bridged dicyclopentadienes (C₅H₃R(SiMe₂))(C₅H₃R(GeMe₂)) (R=H (1), ^tBu (5)) with Mo(CO)₆, the bridging GeMe₂ is cleaved to give the corresponding degermylated products [(η⁵-C₅H₃R)₂(SiMe₂)]Mo₂(CO)₆ (3, rac-7), or both GeMe₂ and SiMe₂ are cleaved to afford the nonbridged products [(η⁵-C₅H₄R)Mo(CO)₃]₂ (2, 6). The reactions also produce germylidyne trimolybdenum clusters [(η⁵-C₅H₃R)₂(SiMe₂)](η⁵-C₅H₄R)[Mo(CO)₂]₃(μ₃-GeMe) (4, rac-/meso-7) containing the Mo₃(μ₃-GeMe) units. Similarly, reaction of the single GeMe₂-bridged dicyclopentadienes (C₅H₅)₂GeMe₂ (9) with Mo(CO)₆ also results in the degermylated 2, as well as the similar trimolybdenum cluster [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Mo(CO)₂]₃(μ₃-GeMe) (10). The molecular structures of 4 and trans-5 were determined by X-ray diffraction.