SYNTHESIS OF TRINUCLEAR CLUSTERS VIA TRANSFORMATION OF FE3(CO)11-2- AND FE4(CO)13-2-

Reactions of the cluster compounds [PPN]2[Fe3(CO)11] and [PPN]2[Fe4(CO)13] with organotransition metal halides are described. In all cases a fragmentation of the Fe(n) cluster framework occurs. A common side product resulting from hydride abstraction is [PPN][HFe3(CO)11], the structure of which was determined. Both starting clusters yield [PPN][MFe2(CO)12] M = Mn, Re) with (CO)5MnBr and (CO)5ReBr, respectively. The structure of [PPN][MnFe2(CO)12] suffers from the same disorder problem as that of Fe3(CO)12. With Cp(PPh3)NiCl the starting clusters form [PPN][Fe2NiCp(CO)8], the structure of which was also determined.