Carboxylate and dicarboxylate derivatives of [Et4N][Re2(CO)6(OR)3] (R = H or Me)

The ligand exchange reaction of the anionic binuclear rhenium complexes (R = H (1) or Me (2)) has been studied with the carboxylic acids; benzoic acid (3, 4, and 5), fumaric acid (6), and terephthalic acid (7). The exchange with benzoic acid can be controlled by stoichiometry to one, two, or three substitutions. The doubly (4) and triply (5) substituted complexes represent new structural motifs for the triply bridged Re₂(CO)₆ unit. The dicarboxylic acids fumaric and terephthalic bridge two dirhenium centers. Crystal structure determinations have been carried out for the new complexes synthesized.