The photochemistry of the rhenacarborane nitrosyl compounds [1,2-R
2-3,3-(CO)
2-3-NO-
closo-3,1,2-ReC
2B
9H
9], where R = H,
I, and R = Me,
II, has been studied in Nujol andmethytetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) frozen glasses at ca. 90 K. Visible light photolysis givesrise to a new species that has been assigned to the isonitrosyl linkage isomer, while ultravioletphotolysis gives rise to a second species believed to be the
2-NO linkage isomer. In MeTHFhigh-energy photolysis also gives rise to a CO-loss product. Photolysis of derivatives of
I,[3-L-3-L'-3-NO-
closo-3,1,2-ReC
2B
9H
11], where L = CO, L' = PMe
3,
III; L = CO, L' = CNC
6H
3Me
2-2, 6,
IV, and L = L' = CNC
6H
3Me
2-2,6,
V, all give rise to a photoproduct believed to bethe
2-NO lnkage isomer. There was no evidence of the isonitrosyl isomer in these cases.Complexes
III and
IV also undergo CO loss. Ultraviolet photolysis of [3,3,3-(CO)
3-
closo-3,1,2-RuC
2B
9H
11],
VI, in MeTHF results in CO loss and formation of the corresponding [3,3-(CO)
2-3-MeTHF-
closo-3,1,2-RuC
2B
9H
11] derivative. In frozen Nujol, ultraviolet photolysis of
VI gives rise to a CO-loss species. Upon visible light back-photolysis or annealing of thesample, this photoproduct gives rise to a second dicarbonyl species of unknown structure.