The chemistry of polynuclear compounds

The reaction of triruthenium dodecacarbonyl, [Ru3(CO)12], with water leads to the formation of the tetranuclear hydrides α-[Ru4(CO)12H4] and α-[Ru4(CO)13H2]. The significance of this reaction to the possible activation of alkanes is discussed. The corresponding reaction of [Os3(CO)12] leads to the isolation of clusters based on three, four, five, six and seven metal atoms, viz. [Os3(CO)10H(OH)], [Os4(CO)13H2], [Os4(CO)12H4], [Os5(CO)16H2], [Os5(CO)15H2], [Os6(CO)18H2], and [Os7C(CO)19H2]. The probable structures of these polynuclear osmium carbonyls are discussed and compared with those of the previously characterized osmium cluster carbonyls. (author)