Pincer ligand coordination at a triosmium cluster: X-ray structures of 1,2-Os3(CO)10[4,6-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-m-xylene] and 1,2-Os3(CO)10[1-diphenylphosphino-1-{(2,4-dimethyl-5-diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenyl}-propan-2-ol]

The reaction of the triosmium cluster 1,2-Os3(CO)10(MeCN)2 with the pincer ligand 4,6-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-m-xylene (dppx) furnishes the diphosphine-bridged clusters 1,2-Os3(CO)10(dppx) (2) and 1,2-Os3(CO)10[1-diphenylphosphino-1-{(2,4-dimethyl-5-diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenyl}-propan-2-ol] (3) as the major and minor products, respectively. Both clusters have been structurally characterized, and the origin of the functionalized dppx ligand in the minor product is traced to the ethanol solvent that was used in the recrystallization of the parent diphosphine ligand.