Structure and reactivity of a dimetallic rhenium hydride complex with a rhenium–rhenium double bond: X-ray crystal structures of [Re 2 (CO) 6 (Ph 2 PCH 2 PPh 2 )H 2 ] and [Re 2 (CO) 6 (Ph 2 PCH 2 PPh 2 )(NCHMe)H]

The complex [Re2(CO)6(Ph2PCH2PPh2)H2] with an Re–Re double bond has been prepared and its crystal structure determined; it reacts with (MeO)3P, RNC, and MeCN under mild conditions giving 1 : 1 adducts in which the dimetallic unit is preserved and with MeCN two separable isomers are obtained one of which has been shown by X-ray analysis to be the insertion product [Re2(CO)6(Ph2PCH2PPh2)(NCHMe)H].