Synthesis and characterisation of phosphane-substituted Co3C clusters having a pendant allyl side-chain

Substituted μ3-carbido-capped tricobalt carbonyl clusters have been synthesised by reaction of [Co3(μ3-C(O)OCH2CHCH2)(CO)9] with a range of monodentate and chelating phosphane ligands. The products have been characterised by microanalysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and, in the case of [Co3(μ3-CR)(CO)7(dppe)], [Co3(μ3-CR)(CO)7(dppm)], [Co3(μ3-CR)(CO)7(PPh3)2], [Co3(μ3-CR)(CO)7(PMe3)2] and [Co3(μ3-CR)(CO)6(PEt3)3] (R=C(O)OCH2CHCH2), single crystal X-ray diffraction.