Ligand substitution in the heterometallic cluster Cp*IrOs3(μ-H)2(CO)10

The reactions of the heterometallic cluster Cp*IrOs₃(μ-H)₂(CO)₁₀ with phosphines, isonitriles and pyridine under TMNO activation afforded the substitution products Cp*IrOs₃(μ-H)₂(CO)_10−nL_n (n = 1, 2; L = PPh₃, P(OMe)₃, ^tBuNC, CyNC or py) in good yields. For the monosubstituted derivatives, the substitution site was exclusively at an osmium atom in an axial position for L = phosphine or phosphite. Spectroscopic evidence suggested the presence of isomers in solution for the PPh₃ derivative. In contrast, for L = isonitrile, the ligand occupied an equatorial site. In the disubstituted derivatives, the group 15 ligands were coordinated to two different osmium atoms, one each at an axial and an equatorial site. The isomerism and fluxional behaviour of some of these clusters have also been examined.