Bimetallic clusters of iron with palladium and platinum. Synthesis and structures of Fe2(CO)9[M(PBu(t)3)]2 (M = Pd or Pt) and Fe2(CO)8[Pt(PBu(t)3)]2(mu-H)2

The reaction of Fe2(CO)9 with Pd(PBu(t)3)2 and Pt(PBu(t)3)2 yielded the Fe-Pd and Fe-Pt cluster complexes Fe2(CO)9M(PBu(t)3)]2, M = Pd (8) or Pt (9). The structures of 8 and 9 are analogous and consist of nearly planar butterfly clusters of two palladium/platinum atoms in the wing-tip positions and two mutually bonded iron atoms, Fe-Fe = 2.9582(11) A in 8 and 2.9100 (9) A in 9. Compound 8 decomposes to form the mononuclear iron compound Fe(CO)4(PBu(t)3) (11) when heated at 68 degrees C. The reaction of Pt(PBu(t)3)2 with Fe2(CO)9 in the presence of hydrogen at 127 degrees C yielded the dihydrido complex Fe2(CO)8Pt(PBu(t)3)]2(mu-H)2 (10). Compound 10 contains a closed Fe2Pt2 tetrahedral cluster with hydrido ligands bridging two of the Fe-Pt bonds. Compounds 8, 9, and 10 were structurally characterized crystallographically.