The reaction of the precursor PhCCo3(CO)9 with NaW(CO)3(RCp): Characterization and crystal structure of the clusters(μ3-CPh)Co2W(CO)8(RCp (RHCO, CH3CO, C2H5OCO)

μ3-Phenylmethylidyne trimetal carbonyl clusters (μ3-CPh(Co2W(CO)8(RCp) (2a:RHCO; 3a:RCH3CO; 4a:RC2H5OCO) have been obtained from a solution of the precursor(μ3-CPh)Co3(CO)9 refluxing with the metal exchange reagents NaW (CO)3(RCp) in THF. The results showed that electron-withdrawing groups on the cyclopentadienyl affected the activity of the metal exchange reagents NaW(CO)3(RCp) and the above reaction was accelerated thermally. The results further showed that the metal carbony; unit Co(CO)3 in the precursor PhCCo3(CO)9 can be exchanged by the organometallic group W(CO)2(RCp). The clusters were characterized by C/H analysis, IR and 1H NMR and by crystal structure determination for cluster 3a.