Reversible C-H bond activation at a triosmium centre: A comparative study of the reactivity of unsaturated triosmium clusters Os3(CO)8(μ-dppm)(μ-H)2 and Os3(CO)8(μ-dppf)(μ-H)2 with activated alkynes

Heating a benzene solution of the unsaturated cluster Os3(CO)8(μ-dppm)(μ-H)2 (1) [dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane] with MeO2CCCCO2Me (DMAD) or EtO2CCCCO2Et (DEAD) at 80 °C furnished the dinuclear compounds Os2(CO)4(μ-dppm)(μ-η2;η1;к1-RO2CCCHCO2R)(μ-H) (3a, R = Me, 3b, R = Et) and the saturated trinuclear complexes Os3(CO)7(μ-dppm)(μ3-η2;η1;η1-RO2CCCCO2R)(μ-H)2 (4a, R = Me, 4b, R = Et). In contrast, similar reactions using unsaturated Os3(CO)8(μ-dppf)(μ-H)2 (2) [dppf = bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene] afforded only the trinuclear complexes Os3(CO)8(μ-dppf)(μ-η2;η1-RO2CCHCCO2R)(μ-H) (5a, R = Me; 5b, R = Et) and Os3(CO)7(μ-dppf)(μ3-η2;η1;η1-RO2CCCCO2R)(μ-H)2 (6a, R = Me; 6b, R = Et). Control experiments confirm that 5a and 5b decarbonylate at 80 °C to give 6a and 6b, respectively. Both 5a and 5b exist as a pair of isomers in solution, as demonstrated by 1H NMR and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy. DFT calculations on cluster 5a (as the dppf-Me4 derivative) indicate that the isomeric mixture derives from a torsional motion that promotes the conformational flipping of the cyclopentadienyl groups of the dppf-Me4 ligand relative to the metallic plane. VT NMR measurements on clusters 6a and 6b indicate that while the hydride ligand associated with the dppf-bridged Os-Os bond is nonfluxional at room temperature, the second hydride rapidly oscillates between the two non-dppf-bridged Os-Os edges. DFT examination of this hydride fluxionality confirms a “windshield wiper” motion for the labile hydride that gives rise to a time-average coupling of this hydride to both phosphorus centers of the dppf ligand. Thermolysis of 6a and 6b in refluxing toluene yielded Os3(CO)7(μ-dppf)(μ-η2;η1;к1-CCHCO2R) (7a, R=Me; 7b, R=Et). The vinylidene moieties in 7a and 7b derive from the carbon-carbon bond cleavage of coordinated alkyne ligands, and these two products exhibit high thermal stability in refluxing toluene.