Reaction of [M(CO)4]− (M = Ir, Rh) with cyclopropenyl tetrafluoroborate – Ring opening and coupling of cyclopropenyl ligands to form dinuclear metal complexes

Reaction of the iridium tetracarbonylate [PPN][Ir(CO)4] (1a) with triphenylcyclopropenyl tetrafluoroborate [C3Ph3][BF4] afforded two dinuclear species Ir2(CO)4(μ,η1:η2-C3Ph3)(μ,η2:η3-C3Ph3) (2) and Ir2(CO)4(μ,η4:η4-C6Ph6) (3a) resulting from the ring opening and in the latter case, coupling of the resulting acyclic, propenyl ligands. The analogous reaction with [PPN][Rh(CO)4] (1b) afforded only the rhodium analogue for 3a.