Synthesis and crystal structure of a new triosmium alkylidyne carbonyl cluster containing a chiral ferrocenylphosphine ligand.

The synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and X-ray crystal structure of a new chiral triosmium alkylidyne carbonyl cluster, (R,S)-[Os3(mu-H)2(CO)9{mu3-CPPh2(eta(5)-C5H4)Fe(eta(5)-C5H3(PPh2)CH(Me)NM(2)}] (1) are described. Compound 1 crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric space group P2(1) and its absolute configuration has been established.The structure consists of an Os3C metal core with one of the PPh2 moieties of the chiral ferrocenylphosphine bonded to the apical alkylidyne carbon atom to give a zwitterionic cluster complex, reminiscent of the phosphorus ylide.