STRUCTURE OF 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-HEPTACARBONYL-1,2,3-MU-3-ETHYLIDYNE-2,3-BIS(TRIPHENYL-PHOSPHITE)-TRIANGULO-TRICOBALT(0)

[Co3(C2H3)(CO)7(C18H15O3P)2], M(r) = 1020.4, triclinic, P1BAR, a = 11.311 (5), b = 11.541 (2), c = 18.805 (3) angstrom, alpha = 99.61 (1), beta = 103.21 (2), gamma = 70.93 (3)-degrees, V = 2247.3 angstrom 3, Z = 2, D(x) = 1.51 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K-alpha) = 0.7107 angstrom, mu = 12.23 cm-1, F(000) = 1036, T = 290 K, R = 0.056 for 3828 observed reflections with F > 4-sigma(F). The Co atoms are arranged in a triangle, with Co-Co bond lengths in the range 2.478-2.493 (2) angstrom. The seven carbonyl ligands are all coordinated terminally, as are the two triphenylphosphite ligands which occupy equatorial positions trans to metal-metal bonds. The metal-atom triangle is capped by a mu-3-ethylidyne (mu-3-CCH3) group, whose H atoms, successfully located in the electron-density map, take up staggered conformations with respect to the metal-atom positions.