Intramolecular Cyclization of Butadiyne Functionalized Ligands coordinated to Triosmium‐Carbonyl Cluster

Reactions between diynes and [Os₃(CO)₁₁(CH₃CN)] in the presence of water give rise to the formation of intriguing hydride triosmium clusters [Os₃(μ‐H)(CO)₉{μ₃,η¹:η³:η¹‐RC₂COHC≡CR}] ( 1a – 1c ) under mild conditions in high yields. When these allylic alcohol compounds 1a – 1c are dissolved in dry polar and donor solvents, an intramolecular cyclization process takes place to give [Os₃(μ‐H)(CO)₉{μ₃,η¹:η³:η¹‐RC₂CH=COCR}] ( 2a – 2c ) in quantitative yield. The utilization of [Os₃(CO)₁₁(CH₃CN)] as starting material together with the addition of water can replace the inconvenient use of [Os₃(μ‐H)₂(CO)₁₀]. This method of synthesis provides a facile pathway for diyne cyclizations and has a clear advantage over those described to date in the literature. Additionally, the analogous cyclized mixed‐metal complex [Os₃(μ‐H)(CO)₉{μ₃,η¹:η³:η¹‐FcC₂CH=COCFc}] ( 2d ) (Fc = ferrocenyl), was synthesized in order to carry out a comparative electrochemical study with the related compounds [Os₃(CO)₁₁(μ₃‐FcC₄Fc)] ( I ) and [Os₃(CO)₁₀(μ₃‐FcC₄Fc)] ( II ), which were previously reported by R. D. Adams.