Interconversion of tetrahedranes containing naked phosphorus ligands; synthesis of the trimetallic complexes [MonW(3-n)Cp(3)(CO)(6)(mu(3)-P)] (n=0-3, Cp=eta(5)-C5H5) and their air oxidation to the corresponding complexes of the mu(3)-PO ligand

Thermolytic reaction of [MCp(CO)(2)(eta(3)-P-3)] with [M'(2)Cp(2)(CO)(4)] (M = M' = Mo or W, Cp = eta(5)-C5H4) afforded the dimetallic complexes [MonW(2-n)Cp(2)(CO)(4)(mu,eta(2)-P-2)] (n = 0-2) and the trimetallic complexes [MonW(3-n)Cp(3)(CO)(6)(mu(3)-P)] (n = 0-3). Solutions of these trimetallics were readily oxidised by atmospheric oxygen to the corresponding complexes containing the mu(3)-PO ligand, [MonW(3-n)Cp(3)(CO)(6)(mu(3)-PO)] (n = 0-3). The complexes [Mo(3)Cp(3)(CO)(6)(mu(3)-PO)],[W(2)Cp(2)(CO)(4)(mu,eta(2)-P-2)] and [MoWCp(2)(CO)(4)(mu,eta(2)-P-2)] have been characterised by X-ray diffraction.