A new organometallic synthon in diamondoid crystal engineering?

Three novel neutral complexes containing the [ReO]3+ core have been prepared starting from K2ReBr6. Complexes with general formula [ReO(OCH3)(ox)(L)] (ox=oxalate; L=2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) or cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene (dppee)) have been obtained and characterized. The molecular structures of [ReO(OCH3)(ox)(bipy)] and [ReO(OCH3)(ox)(dppe)] have been determined of single-crystal X-ray analysis. The structure of the complexes consists of a six-coordinated rhenium atom bonded to two trans-oxygen atoms, one of the [ReO]3+ core and one from a methoxy group. One oxalate ligand and a neutral diamine or diphosphine make the equatorial plane.