DEPROTONATION OF UNCHARGED TRANSITION-METAL DIHYDROGEN COMPLEXES WITH COPPER ALKOXIDES, CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HETEROMETALLIC COMPLEXES (PR3)XFEHYCU(PR3), (PR3)XWHYCU(PR3) AND X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF (PETPH2)3FEH3CU(PETPH2)

Reaction of FeH2(eta-2-H-2)(PEtPh2)3 (1) or W(eta-2-H-2)(CO)3(PR3)2 (PR3 = P(C6H11)3 (2a), P(i-Pr)3 (2b), P(C5H9)3 (2c), P(i-Pr)(C6H11)2 (2d) with 1/4[CuO-t-Bu]4 or 1/2[Cu(O-t-Bu)(PR3)]2 (PR3 = PPh3, P(C6H11)3, or PPh2Et) results in deprotonation and concomitant elimination of HO-t-Bu. Characterization and reactivity studies of the bimetallic products (PEtPh2)3Fe(mu-H)3Cu(PEtPh2) (3) and (PR3)2(CO)3W(mu-H)Cu(PR3) (PR3 = P(C6H11)3 (4a), P(i-Pr)3 (4b), and P(C5H9)3 (4c)) are described, including an X-ray crystallographic study of 3. The latter complex consists of a facial P3FeH3 moiety, bridged by three hydrides to a Cu-P fragment with an Fe-Cu distance of 2.319 (1) angstrom. Crystal data for 3 (233-degrees-K): a = 10.872 (2) angstrom, b = 18.512 (4) angstrom, c = 12.647 (3) angstrom, beta = 94.10 (3)-degrees, and Z = 2 in space group P2(1).