Halogenation behaviour of bidentate ligand-bridged derivatives of [Ru3(CO)12] and [Os3(CO)12]

Reaction of the ligand-bridged derivatives [M3(CO)10{μ-(RO)2PN(Et)P(OR)2}] and [M3(CO)8{μ-(RO)2PN(Et)P(OR)2}2] (M = Ru or Os; R = Me or Pri) with halogens leads to the formation of cationic products [M3(μ-X)(CO)10{μ- (RO)2PN(Et)P(OR)2}]+ and [M3(μ-X)(CO)8{μ-(RO)2PN(Et)P(OR)2}2]+ (X = Cl, Br or I) in which the halogen bridges an opened edge of the metal atom framework; the crystal structure of [Ru3(μ-I)(CO)8{μ-(MeO)2PN(Et)P(OMe)2}2]PF6 is reported.