Water-soluble organometallic compounds.: 8.: Synthesis, spectral properties, and crystal structures of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) derivatives of metal carbonyl clusters:: Ru3(CO)9(PTA)3 and Ir4(CO)7(PTA)5

The syntheses of Ru-3(CO)(9)(PTA)(3) and Ir-4(CO)(7)(PTA)(5) were accomplished through the thermal reactions of Ru-3(CO)(12) or Ir-4(CO)(12) with the water-soluble phosphine, PTA( 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane). The ruthenium derivative was shown by X-ray crystallography to consist of a triangular Ru, core with three nearly equal Ru-Ru bonds, with each ruthenium atom bearing an equatorially positioned PTA ligand. In Ir-4(CO)(7)(PTA)(5) the iridium atoms define a tetrahedron which is bridged on three edges by CO ligands. One basal iridium atom contains two PTA ligands, while the other two basal and the apical iridium atoms each possess one PTA ligand in their coordination spheres. Although, Ru-3(CO)(9)(PTA)(3) is only sparingly soluble in pure water, it is very soluble in aqueous solution of pH <4. Indeed the triruthenium cluster can be extracted reversibly between an aqueous and an organic phase (e.g., CH2Cl2) by changing the pH of the aqueous phase. On the other hand the more highly PTA substituted cluster, Ir-4(CO)(7)(PTA)(5), exhibits good solubility in aqueous solution (pH 7 and below) and a variety of organic solvents. Both cluster derivatives are stable in deoxygenated, aqueous solutions for extended period of time ( > 24 h).