Easily reversible ionic fragmentation of a tetrahedral unsaturated rhenium cluster, a reappraisal of the reaction of [Re4(µ3-H)4(CO)12] with methanol

Abstract

The unsaturated tetrahedral cluster [Re₄(µ₃-H)₄(CO)₁₂] in the presence of weak donor molecules L, like methanol or acetone, reversibly fragments to unsaturated triangular cluster anions and to mononuclear cations, probably via spiked-triangular [Re₄(µ-H)₄(CO)₁₂L₄] intermediates.