X-ray crystallographic study of two dinuclear triply-bridged p-cymene osmium complexes

The single crystal X-ray structure analyses of [Os2(p-cymene)2(m-H)3]PF6 ([1]PF6) and [Os2(p-cymene)2(m-Cl)3]PF6 ([2]PF6) are presented. The two triple bridged arene osmium complexes show the metal to be in an octahedral geometry, where the p-cymene ligand is facially coordinated and where the bridging ligands (Cl or H) occupy the remaining three coordination sites. In the dinuclear trihydrido complex a strong metal–metal interaction is observed. This is not the case for the trichloro complex where a large metal–metal distance indicates no metal–metal bonding. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved