Heterooctanuclear cluster complex formation with phosphine participation: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of Co(sub 6)Ru(sub 2)mp(sub 10)(Pbu(super n)(sub 3))(sub 6) (H(sub 2)mp = 2-mercaptophenol, PBu(super n)(sub 3) = tri-n-butylphosphine)

The reaction of CoCl2, RuCl3, Na2(mp) and PBu(super n)(sub 3) (H2mp=2-mercaptophenol, PBu(super n)(sub 3)=tri-n-butylphosphine) in ethanol in the molar ratio of 0.75:0.25:1:1 produced the complex Co6Ru2(mp)10(PBu(super n)(sub 3))6. The metal skeleton showed a quasi-linear array with three doubly mu2-O, four doubly mu2-S and two singly mu2-S bridges in highly asymmetric bonding modes. The magnetic parameters indicated weak magnetic exchange interactions in the complex due to the inefficiency of the bridges in facilitating magnetic couplings.