Complex OsH
2Cl
2(P
iPr
3)
2 (
1) reacts with 2.0 equiv of HSnPh
3 to give the tetrahydride-stannyl derivative OsH
4Cl(SnPh
3)(P
iPr
3)
2 (
2) and ClSnPh
3. The structure of
2 has beendetermined by X-ray diffraction analysis. In the solid state and in solution at temperatureslower than 298 K, the coordination geometry around the osmium atom can be rationalizedas derived from a distorted dodecahedron. In the presence of diphenylacetylene, complex
2gives
OsH3(SnClPh2){2-CH2=C(CH3)PiPr2}(PiPr3) (
3),
cis-stilbene, and benzene. In the solidstate, the structure of
3 determined by X-ray diffraction analysis can be described as a verydistorted pentagonal bipyramid, with the phosphorus atom of the triisopropylphosphineligand and the midpoint of the olefinic bond of the isopropenyl group of the dehydrogenatedphosphine occupying axial positions. In solution, at temperatures higher than 233 K, thecoordinated olefin is released. Complex
3 reacts with molecular hydrogen to afford thepentahydride OsH
5(SnClPh
2)(P
iPr
3)
2 (
4), as a result of the hydrogenation of the coordinatedolefinic bond and the d
4-d
2 oxidative addition of hydrogen. The structure of
4 in the solidstate also has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The coordination geometry around theosmium atom can be rationalized as a distorted dodecahedron. In solution, complex
4 doesnot have a rigid structure even at
193 K. DFT calculations in model systems of
2,
3, and
4,in which the bulky ligands have been replaced by small models, followed by QM/MMoptimizations with the real ligands have allowed the complete determination of the hydridepositions and of the role played by steric effects in the experimental structures.