Synthesis and sup 31 P NMR spectroscopy of trinuclear, phosphido-bridged iridium and rhodium clusters. Crystal and molecular structures of (M sub 3 (. mu. -PPh sub 2 ) sub 3 (CO) sub n L sub 2 ) (M = Ir or Rh, n = 3, L sub 2 = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane: M = Ir, n = 5, L = t-BuNC)

Reaction of (Ir{sub 2}(cyclooctene){sub 4}Cl{sub 2}) with CO, NHEt{sub 2}, and PHPh{sub 2} provides a synthetic route to the trinuclear, phosphido-bridged iridium clusters (Ir{sub 3}({mu}-PPh{sub 2}){sub 3}(CO){sub n}L{sub 2}) (n = 3, L = CO or PPh{sub 3}, L{sub 2} = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm); n = 5, L = t-BuNC). The CO and PPh{sub 3} complexes are analogues of previously known rhodium derivatives, and rhodium analogues of the dppm and t-BuNC complexes are also reported. The crystal structure of both the Ir and Rh complexes was determined and are reported. The molecular structure was also determined. Complete analyses of the {sup 31}P NMR spectra of the prepared complexes are also reported.