Novel triosmium clusters derived from the reaction of [Os3(CO)10(μ-dppm)] with 1-vinylimidazole

The reaction of [Os3(CO)10(μ-dppm)] (1) with 1-vinylimidazole at 110°C afforded two novel trosmium compounds, [(μ-H)Os3(CO)7(μ-2,3-η2-C=NCH=CHNCH=CH2)(η1-CH=NCH=CHN–CH=CH2){μ3-η3-PPhCH2PPh(C6H4)}] (3) and [Os3(CO)8(μ-2,3-η2-C=NCH=CHNCH=CH2)(η1-CH=NCH=CHNCH=CH2)(μ3-η2-PPhCH2PPh2)] (4). The compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H and 31P{1H} NMR and mass spectrometry together with an X-ray analysis for 3, which has a unique structure with a bridging hydride, an N-coordinated η1-vinylimidazole, a dimetallated μ-η2-vinylimidazolide and a μ3-η3-PPhCH2PPh(C6H4) ligands.