Synthesis and reactions of a nucleophilic bis(μ-dimethylphosphido)dicobalt complex. The crystal and molecular structure of [C5H5Co(μ-PMe2)]2 and [(C5H5Co)2(μ-H)(μ-PMe2)2]BPh4

The bis(μ-dimethylphosphido)dicobalt complex [C₅H₅Co(μ-PMe₂)]₂ (II) has been prepared from Co(C₅H₅ and PMe₂H on almost quantitative yield. It has also been made by reduction of [C₅H₅Co(PMe₂H)₃]I₂ (IV) with NaH and from the reaction of [C₅H₅(PMe₃)Co(μ-CO)₂Mn(CO)C₅H₄Me] with PMe₂H. Protonation of II with CF₃CO₃H in the presence of NH₄PF₆ produces the PF₆^? salt of the (μ-hydrido)dicobalt cation [(C₅H₅Co)₂(μ-H)(μ-PMe₂)₂]⁺ (V) which reacts with aqueous NaOH to give II. Similar treatment of [C₅H₅Co(μ-SMe]₂ with CF₃CO₂H/NH₄PF₆ leads to the formation of [(C₅H₅Co)₂(μ-SMe)₃]PF₆ (VI). The nucleophilic character of complex II has also been demonstrated in the reaction with SO₂, which gives [(C₅H₅Co)₂ (μ-PMe₂)₂(μ-SO₂)] (VII). The crystal and molecular structures of II, the corresponding bis(μ-diphenylphosphido) compound [C₅H₅Co(μ-PPh₂)]₂ (III) and the BPh₄^? salt of V have been determined. In both neutral complexes the Co₂P₂ cores are similarly puckered, as reflected in the dihedral angle between the CoP₂ and P₂Co′ planes of 108.1 and 105.0° for R = Me and Ph, respectively. The CoCo bond length and the PP interatomic separations are essentially identical for both dimers. The CoCo bond length in V, 2.517(1) Å, is lower than that in II, 2.542(2) Å. The only obvious structural variation between the unprotonated and the protonated species is the large difference in the degree of canting of the C₅H₅ rings with respect to each other. The angles between the C₅(ring)-centroid and the CoCo line are ca. 150 and 167° in II and V, respectively, which reflects the influence of the bridging hydride ligand in the cationic complex.