Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of cis,mer-[ReH(CO)2{PPh(OMe)2}3]

The dicarbonylhydride complex cis,mer-[ReH(CO)2{PPh(OMe)2}3] (1) was serendipitously obtained when, in an attempt to replace a CO ligand by the phosphonite ligand PPh(OMe)2 in [ReH(CO)3(L)] (L = PPh2OCH2CH2OPPh2), this complex was treated with PPh(OMe)2 under UV irradiation. The complex 1 was characterized by IR, 1H and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy and by crystal structure determination. The spectroscopic features are consequent with the cis,mer configuration showed by the X-ray crystallographic analysis of the complex. The environment of the metal centre is a distorted octahedron.