Oxidative addition of silanes R3SiH to the unsaturated cluster [Os3(micro-H)[micro3-Ph2PCH2PPh(C6H4)](CO)8]: evidence for reversible silane formation in the dynamic behaviour of [Os3(micro-H)(SiR3)(CO)9(micro-dppm)

Oxidative addition of the silanes R(3)SiH (R(3)= Ph(3), Et(3), EtMe(2)) to the unsaturated cluster Os(3)(micro-H)micro(3)-Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(C(6)H(4))](CO)(8)] leads to the saturated clusters Os(3)(micro-H)(SiR(3))(CO)(9)(micro-dppm)](SiR(3)= SiPh(3) 1, SiEt(3) 2 and SiEtMe(2)3) and the unsaturated clusters Os(3)(micro -H)(2)(SiR(3))micro(3)-Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(C(6)H(4))](CO)(7)](SiR(3)= SiPh(3) 4, SiEt(3) 5 and SiEtMe(2)6). Structures are based on spectroscopic evidence and a XRD structure of Os(3)(micro-H)(SiPh(3))(CO)(9)(micro-dppm)] 1 in which all non-CO ligands are coordinated equatorially and the hydride and the silyl groups are mutually cis. From variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectra of the SiEt(3) compound 2, exchange of the P nuclei is clearly apparent. Simultaneous migrations of the SiEt(3) group and of the hydride from one Os-Os edge to another generate a time-averaged mirror plane in the molecule. VT (1)H NMR spectra of the somewhat less bulky compound Os(3)(micro-H)(SiMe(2)Et)(CO)(9)(micro-dppm)] 3 have been analysed. Two isomers 3a and 3b are observed with the hydride ligand located on different Os-Os edges. Synchronous migration of the hydride and SiMe(2)Et groups is faster than the observed interconversion of isomers which occurs by hydride migration alone. The synchronous motion of H and SiR(3)only occurs when these ligands are mutually cis as in the major isomer 3a and we propose that this process requires the formation of a transient silane complex of the type Os(3)(eta(2)-HSiR(3))(CO)(9)(micro-dppm)]. Turnstile rotation within an Os(CO)(3)(eta(2)-HSiR(3)) group leads to the observed exchange within the major isomer 3a without exchange with the minor isomer. This process is not observed for the minor isomer 3b because the hydride and the silyl group are mutually trans. Protonation to give Os(3)(micro-H)(2)(SiR(3))(CO)(9)(micro-dppm)](+) totally suppresses the dynamic behaviour because there are no edge vacancies.