Controlled Synthesis of Multinuclear Metal Complex Arrays by Cross Coupling of Coordinated Ligands

Conditions for efficient cross linking of chelating organic ligands within different metal-containing building blocks have been developed, allowing the preparation of heteronuclear Ru/Os complexes in a controlled manner. Critical to the success of this protocol is the introduction of an Os center early in the synthesis and the use of CuI under polar conditions. Noteworthy features of this method are the tolerance of the metal centers in both reaction partners and the absence of any metal scrambling during the C-C formation or ultimate complexation procedures.