Synthesis and 31P NMR spectroscopy of trinuclear, phosphido-bridged iridium and rhodium clusters. Crystal and molecular structures of [M3(μ-PPh2)3(CO)nL2] (M = Ir or Rh, n = 3, L2 = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane: M = Ir, n = 5, L = t-BuNC)

Reaction of [Ir2(cyclooctene)4Cl2] with CO, NHEt2, and PHPh2 provides a synthetic route to the trinuclear, phosphido-bridged iridium clusters [Ir3(μ-PPh2)3(CO)nL2] (n = 3, L = CO or PPh3, L2 = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm); n = 5, L = t-BuNC). The CO and PPh3 complexes are analogues of previously known rhodium derivatives, and rhodium analogues of the dppm and t-BuNC complexes are also reported. The crystal structure of both the Ir and Rh complexes was determined and are reported. The molecular structure was also determined. Complete analyses of the 31P NMR spectra of the prepared complexes are also reported