Iridium clusters, reaction with carbon

The cobalt carbonyls are prepared by the disproportionation reaction of [Co2(CO)g] in the presence of Lewis bases or by the reduction of cluster cobalt carbonyls with the alkali metals. The iridium compounds are obtained during reduction of [Ir4(CO)i2] with sodium in ether solution. The rhodium carbonyls are usually synthesized by reduction of [Rh2Cl2(CO)4] or [RhClg] " with carbon monoxide in basic medium or by nucleophilic attack of bases on the carbonyl group of carbonyl clusters (see preparation of [M4(CO)i2] and [M6(CO)i6]). 

The chemistry of the carbidocarbonyl clusters of cobalt and rhodium (none is known for iridium) is predominantly the work of Italian school of the late Paolo Chini and colleagues. The first rhodium cluster of this type to be reported was [Rh6C(CO)ls]2, 24 (59), isolated as a minor by-product in the synthesis of [Rh7(CO)t6]3- (and originally misformulated as [Rh3(CO)l0]-). The formation of 24 resulted from the reaction of [Rh7(CO)l6]3- with chloroform (the source of the carbon atom), present as an impurity in the reaction solvent, and 24 is now synthesized by this reaction [Eq. (17)]. 

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