title: Group 9 bimetallic carbonyl permethylpentalene complexes.
abstract: We describe the synthesis, structure and bonding of the first iridium and rhodium permethylpentalene complexes, syn-[M(CO)2]2(μ:η(5):η(5)-Pn*) (M = Rh, Ir). In fact, [Ir(CO)2]2(μ:η(5):η(5)-Pn*) is the first iridium pentalene complex. An interesting preference for the isolation of the sterically more demanding syn-isomer is observed and substantiated by DFT analysis. Upon photolysis, the rhodium analogue yields an unusual tetrameric species Rh4(CO)6(μ:η(3):η(5)-Pn*)2 with bridging carbonyls and Rh-Rh bonds, which has been characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction and by solution NMR spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK. dermot.ohare@chem.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: F Mark
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Chadwick
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK. dermot.ohare@chem.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK. dermot.ohare@chem.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Luke A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK. dermot.ohare@chem.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK. dermot.ohare@chem.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Dermot M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: O'Hare