L.A. CNRS No. 255, Institut de Chimie Moléculaire d'Orsay, Bat. 420, Université Paris-Sud 91405 Orsay Cedex France
Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination du CNRS, associé à l'Université Paul Sabatier, 31400 Toulouse France
Abstract:
Reaction of (μ3-CCH3)CO3(CO)9 (I) with dppm (dppm = bis-(diphenylphosphino)methane) affords the cluster (μ3-CCH3)Co3(CO)7-dppm (II). The crystal and molecular structure of II have been determined at −160°C. The dppm ligand bridges one of the three metal—metal edges in the equatorial plane to give a five-membered ring, which adopts an envelope conformation.
Cluster II functions as a catalyst for the hydroformylation of 1-pentene (80 bar of H2/CO (1/1); 110°C). The results indicate that the dppm bridging ligand stabilizes and activates the cluster for catalysis, and open the way to the synthesis of chiral clusters.