Activation of 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane by Os3(CO)12 to form amidino [(MeN)2CH] cluster complexes

Reaction of 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane [(MeNCH2)3] with Os3(CO)12 in refluxing toluene results in C–H and C–N bond activation of the (MeNCH2)3 ligand to afford three amidino cluster complexes (μ-H)Os3(CO)10[μ,η2-CH(NMe)2] (1), (μ-H)Os3(CO)9[μ3,η2-CH(NMe)2] (2), and Os2(CO)6[μ,η2-CH(NMe)2]2 (3). The controlled experiments show that thermolysis of 1 yields 2, and heating 2 in the presence of (MeNCH2)3 ligand produces 3. The molecular structures of 1 and 3 have been determined by an X-ray diffraction study.