Alternative synthetic route for the heterometallic CO-releasing [Sb@Rh12(CO)27]3− icosahedral carbonyl cluster and synthesis of its new unsaturated [Sb@Rh12(CO)24]4− and dimeric [{Sb@Rh12Sb(CO)25}2Rh(CO)2PPh3]7− derivatives

The hetero-metallic [Sb@Rh12(CO)27]3? cluster has been known as for over three decades thanks to Vidal and co-workers, and represents the first example of an E-centered (E=heteroatom) icosahedral rhodium carbonyl cluster. However, its synthesis required high temperature (140–160 °C) and elevated CO pressure (400 atm). Applying the redox condensation method for cluster preparation, we herein report a new synthetic, high-yield route for preparing [Sb@Rh12(CO)27]3? under much milder conditions of temperature and pressure. Notably, when the same synthesis was carried out under N2 instead of CO atmosphere, the new isostructural but unsaturated derivative [Sb@Rh12(CO)24]4? was obtained, for which we report the full X-ray structural characterization. This species represents one of the few examples of an icosahedral cluster disobeying the electron-counting Wade-Mingos rules, possessing less than the expected 170 cluster valence electrons (CVEs). Judging from IR monitoring, the two species can be obtained one from the other by switching between N2 and CO atmosphere, making [Sb@Rh12(CO)27]3? a spontaneous CO-releasing molecule. Finally, the study of the chemical reactivity of [Sb@Rh12(CO)27]3? with PPh3 allowed us to obtain the new [{Sb@Rh12Sb(CO)25}2Rh(CO)2PPh3]7? dimeric compound, for which we herein report the full X-ray structural and 31P NMR analyses.