Reactivities of Interstitial Hydrides in a Cu-11 Template: En Route to Bimetallic Clusters

International audienceIn sharp contrast to surface hydrides, reactivities of interstitial hydrides are difficult to explore. When treated with a metal ion (Cu , Ag , and Au ), the stable Cu dihydride template [Cu H {S P(O Pr) } (C≡CPh) ] (H Cu ) generates surprisingly three very different compounds, namely [CuH Cu {S P(O Pr) } (C≡CPh) ] (1), [AgH Cu {S P(O Pr) } ((C≡CPh) ] (2), and [AuCu {S P(O Pr) } (C≡CPh) Cl] (3). Compounds 1 and 2 are both M species and maintain the same number of hydride ligands as their H Cu precursor. Neutron diffraction revealed the first time a trigonal-pyramidal hydride coordination mode in the AgCu environment of 2. 3 has no hydride and exhibits a mixed-valent [AuCu ] metal core, making it a two-electron superatom