Alkylidyne ligand dimetal

The structure of 11a has been established by X-ray diffraction. The compounds 11 are 30-cluster valence-electron (CVE) dimetal species, and are therefore electronically unsaturated. The electron distribution within the W(fi-C)fth rings may be represented by various canonical forms. However, that shown, which implies that the W=C bond in the ( 5-C2B9H9R 2)(OC)2-W=CC6H4Me-4 moiety formally contributes three electrons to the rhodium center (16-electron valence shell), accords with other results from our laboratory involving electronically unsaturated dimetal compounds with bridging alkylidyne ligands 18). 

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