Synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of [Ru4H4(CO) 11(PPh3)] and [Ru4−x IrxH2−x(CO) 12(PPh3) ] (x = 0 or 1)

Three tetranuclear clusters [Ru₄H₄(CO)₁₁(PPh₃)] (1), [Ru₄H₂(CO)₁₂(PPh₃)] (2) and [Ru₃IrH(CO)₁₂(PPh₃)] (3) were formed in the reaction of [Ir(CO)Cl(PPh₃)₂] and Na[Ru₃H(CO)₁₁] in tetrahydrofuran. Complexes 1–3 were characterized by IR and ¹H and ³¹P NMR, and the structure of the clusters was confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. In 2 and 3 one of the carbonyls bridges between two ruthenium atoms; otherwise the compounds contain only terminal carbonyls.