title: Synthetic, Structural, Spectroscopic, and Theoretical Studies of Structural Isomers of the Cluster Pt(3)(&mgr;-PPh(2))(3)Ph(PPh(3))(2). A Unique Example of Core Isomerism in Phosphine Phosphido-Rich Clusters.
abstract: Two isomers of the phosphido-bridged platinum cluster Pt(3)(&mgr;-PPh(2))(3)Ph(PPh(3))(2) (2 and 3) have been isolated, and their structures have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmc2(1) with a = 22.192(10) Å, b = 17.650(9) Å, c = 18.182(8) Å, and Z = 4. Compound 3 crystallizes with 2 molecules of dichloromethane in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 21.390(10) Å, b = 18.471(9) Å, c = 19.021(11) Å, beta = 105.27(5) degrees, and Z = 4. The two isomers differ essentially in their metal-metal distances and Pt-(&mgr;-PPh(2))-Pt angles. Thus 2, having an imposed C(s) symmetry, contains a bent chain of metal atoms with two short Pt-Pt distances of 2.758(3) Å and a long separation of 3.586(2) Å. In 3, which has an imposed C(2) symmetry, the metal atoms form an isosceles triangle with two Pt-Pt distances of 2.956(3) Å and one of 3.074(4) Å. These isomers can be smoothly interconverted by changing the crystallization solvents. Solution and solid-state (31)P NMR studies have been performed in order to assign the resonances of the different P nuclei and relate their chemical shifts with their structural environments. Raman spectroscopy was used to assign the nu(Pt-Pt) modes of the two structural isomers. Theoretical studies based on extended Hückel calculations and using the fragment molecular orbital approach show that the isomer with the three medium Pt-Pt distances is slightly more stable, in agreement with earlier theoretical predictions. Cluster core isomerism remains a rare phenomenon, and the present example emphasizes the role and the importance of flexible phosphido bridges in stabilizing clusters as well as the unprecedented features which can be observed in phosphine phosphido-rich metal clusters.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, URA 416 CNRS, and Laboratoire de Chimie Quantique, UPR 139 CNRS, Université Louis Pasteur, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, F-67070 Strasbourg Cédex, France, Department of Chemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1, Dipartimento di Chimica Inorganica, Chimica Fisica e Chimica dei Materiali, Università di Torino, Via Giuria 7, I-10125 Torino, Italy, and Dipartimento di Chimica Generale ed Inorganica, Chimica Analitica, Chimica Fisica, Università di Parma, Centro di Studio per la Strutturistica Diffrattometrica del CNR, Viale delle Scienze, I-43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Braunstein
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dedieu
authors.forename: Paul D.
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huggins
authors.forename: Pierre D.
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sappa
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiripicchio