An Mo₂(CO)₄ (Mo[triple bond]Mo) Fragment Stabilized by a Tripod Ligand

Tetracarbonyl-1κ²C;2κ²C-bis[3,4(η⁵)-cyclopentadienyl]hexakis-μ-dimethylphosphito-1κ³O: P; 2 : 4κ⁶O : P-dicobaltdimolybdenum(I)(Mo—Mo), [Mo(CO)₂{Co(C₅H₅)(C₂H₆O₃P)₃}]₂, a binuclear metal complex of type L₂Mo₂(CO)₄ (L is a tripod ligand), shows central Mo[triple bond]Mo triple bond of length 2.467 (1) and 2.468 (1) Å in the two independent molecules. The structure agrees very well with that of a related tungsten complex. The coordination of the central Mo atoms is distorted octahedral with acute Mo—Mo—C angles. All twelve Mo—O—P—Co fragments are synperiplanar with Co—P bond lengths ranging from 2.152 (2) to 2.171 (1) Å.

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