A new synthetic route to [MF(μ-F)(CO)3]4 (M=Ru, Os) and their reactivity with P(C6H4-4-X)3 (X=OCH3, OH) and P(C6H4-2-OH)3: Crystal structure of [Os(CO)3{κ3-(2-OC6H4)2P(C6H4-2-OH)}]·C3H6O

The reaction of [M3(CO)12] (M=Ru, Os) with elemental fluorine in anhydrous HF offers a clean, convenient route to [MF(μ-F)(CO)3]4. This tetramer reacts with Tris–ortho-hydroxyphenyl phosphine, with the elimination of HF, to give a new, metal-bound, trihapto (η3-P,O,O) ligand.