Photochemical decarbonylation of [Mo
2Cp
2(
-PR*)(CO)
4] (Cp =
5-C
5H
5; R* = 2,4,6-C
6H
2tBu
3) gi
ves [Mo
2Cp
2(
-
1:
1,
6-PR*)(CO)
2], which shows the first example of a remarkable 10-electron donor arylphosphinidene ligand which bridges two Mo atoms through its phosphorus atom while being
-bonded to one Mo center through the six carbon atoms of the aryl ring. This causes a se
vere pyramidal distortion of the P-bound C atom. The complex adds CO to gi
ve [Mo
2Cp
2(
-
1:
1,
4-PR*)(CO)
3], which has an 8-electron donor PR* ligand, and then the parent complex [Mo
2Cp
2(
-PR*)(CO)
4]. Protonation of [Mo
2Cp
2(
-
1:
1,
6-PR*)(CO)
2] gi
ves the hydride [Mo
2Cp
2(H)(
-
1:
1,
6-PR*)(CO)
2]
+, which undergoes P-C bond clea
vage and hydride migration, affording the phosphido cation [Mo
2Cp
2(
-P)(
6-R*H)(CO)
2]
+.