Triosmium cluster complexes [Os
3(CO)
8(fppz)
2] (
2a) and [Os
3(CO)
8(fptz)
2] (
2b) bearing two 2-pyridyl azolate ligandswere synthesized in an attempt to establish the reaction mechanism that gives rise to the blue-emitting phosphorescentcomplexes [Os(CO)
2(fppz)
2] (
1a) and [Os(CO)
2(fptz)
2] (
1b) [(fppz)H = 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole; (fptz)H= 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)triazole]. X-ray structural analysis of
2b showed an open triangular metal frameworkincorporating multisite-coordinated 2-pyridyltriazolate ligands. Treatment of
2 with the respective 2-pyridylazolateligand led to the formation of blue-emitting complex
1b, confirming their intermediacy, while the reaction of
2b withphosphine ligand PPh
2Me afforded two hitherto novel hydride complexes
3 and
4, for which the reversibleinterconversion was clearly established at higher temperatures (>180
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C). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysesof
3 and
4 confirmed their monometallic and isomeric nature, together with the coordination of two phosphineligands located in the trans-disposition and one CO and one hydride located opposite to the pyridyl triazolatechelate. Subtle differences in photophysical properties were examined for isomers
3 and
4 on the basis of steadystate absorption and emission, the relaxation dynamics, and temperature-dependent luminescent studies. The results,in combination with time-dependent density function theory (TDDFT) calculations, provide fundamental insights intothe future design and preparation of highly efficient phosphorescent emitters.