Substituted metal carbonyls. IV. Studies of the synthesis and decomposition of singly-bridging 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propanedimetal decacarbonyls of chromium, molybdenum and tungsten

Abstract

Singly-bridging diphosphine complexes M2(CO)10(μ-dppp) (M Cr, W; dppp Ph2P(CH2)3PPh2) have been isolated in a facile synthesis via an oxidative decarbonylation of M(CO)6 using trimethylamine-N-oxide as the initiator. The thermal decomposition of these complexes, together with the molybdenum analogue, have been studied in refluxing acetonitrile, benzene or toluene under N2 or CO. The characterisations and thermal stabilities of these species are described and discussed. Conversion of the 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propanedimetal decacarbonyl complexes of chromium, molybdenum and tungsten into the chelate M(CO)4(η2-dppp) is promoted by free dppp but inhibited by CO gas. © 1988.