Preparation of the Paramagnetic Hydrides (Me 5 C 5 ) 3 M 3 (μ 3 -CH)(μ-H) (M = Ni, Co)

MeLi reacts with Me 5 C 5 M(acac) to give the trinuclear clusters (Me 5 C 5 ) 3 M 3 (μ 3 -CH)(μ-H) (M = Co, Ni). The 49-electron nickel cluster is paramagnetic with one unpaired electron, and the 46-electron cobalt cluster is also paramagnetic; the latter reacts with dihydrogen to give diamagnetic (Me 5 C 5 ) 3 Co 3 (μ 3 -CH)(μ-H) 3 .