Interconversion of tetrahedranes containing naked phosphorus ligands; synthesis of the trimetallic complexes [MonW(3−n) Cp3(CO)6(μ3-P)] (n = 0–3, Cp = η5-C5H5) and their air oxidation to the corresponding complexes of the μ3-PO ligand

Thermolytic reaction of [MCp(CO) 2 (η 3 -P 3 )] with [M′ 2 Cp 2 (CO) 4 ] (M = M′ = Mo or W, Cp = η -C 5 H 5 ) afforded the dimetallic complexes [Mo n W (2-n) Cp 2 ( CO) 4 (µ,η 2 -P 2 )] (n = 0–2) and the trimetallic complexes [Mo n W (3-n) Cp 3 (CO) 6 (µ 3 -P)] (n = 0–3). Solutions of these trimetallics were readily oxidised by atmospheric oxygen to the corresponding complexes containing the µ 3 -PO ligand, [Mo n W (3-n) Cp 3 (CO) 6 (µ 3 -PO)] (n = 0–3). The complexes [Mo 3 Cp 3 (CO) 6 (µ 3 -PO)], [W 2 Cp 2 (CO) 4 (µ,η 2 -P 2 )] and [MoWCp 2 (CO) 4 (µ, η 2 -P 2 )] have been characterised by X-ray diffraction.