Reactions of the triosmium cluster Os3(μ-H)(μ-OH)(CO)10 with naphthols

Reaction of the cluster Os3(μ-H)(μ-OH)(CO)10 (1) with 1-naphthol afforded the isomeric clusters 2a and 3a with the formulae Os3(μ-H)2(μ3-1-OC10H6)(CO)9. A similar reaction with 2-naphthol, however, gave Os3(μ-H)(μ-2-OC10H7)(CO)10, 4b, and the analogue of 2a. These clusters have been structurally characterised to confirm the mode of anchoring of the naphthols.