Synthesis and X-ray structure of the [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion: dimerization of a metal carbonyl cluster via formation of an exceptionally short hydrogen bond

The synthesis, structure and characterization of the [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion in its [Cs(THF)0.33]+ and [NEt4]+ salt are reported. The title dimeric cluster has been obtained by protonation in water or in organic solvent of the [Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)]2- dianion to the hydroxo [Fe3(CO)9(micro3-OH)]- derivative and crystallization. The solid state structure of [Cs(THF)0.33]3[{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H] is based on ionic packing of [Cs(THF)0.33]+ cations and [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianions. The fractional formula is due to the particular packing of Cs+ cations, which are at the vertices of fused cuboctahedral and trigonal antiprismatic polyhedrons. Each cuboctahedron encapsulates a [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion, whereas each trigonal antiprism encapsulates a THF molecule. The possibility that the structure of the [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion could be affected by its confinement in the cuboctahedral cage of Cs+ ions and the heavy disorder of the THF molecule urged a further structural determination of the trianion with a completely different cation. The corresponding [NEt4]3[{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H] salt has been, therefore, prepared and structurally characterized. The [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion displays an identical structure and almost coincident molecular parameters in both salts. Its most notable feature is represented by the unique hydrogen atom symmetrically bridging the micro3-O atoms of two different [Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)]2- molecules and displaying one of shortest O...H...O interaction so far reported in organic, inorganic and organometallic literature. The structure of [Cs(THF)]2[Fe4(CO)13], which has been obtained as a by-product of the synthesis of [Cs(THF)0.33]3[{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H], is also briefly reported.