Synthesis of the Diphosphino–Fullerene 1,2,4,15-(PPh2)2(H)2C60 and Its Complexation with Triosmium Carbonyl Clusters

The borane-protected dihydridodiphosphinofullerene 1,2,4,15-(PPh2·BH3)2(H)2C60 (1) has been prepared by nucleophilic addition of two [H3B·PPh2]− anions to C60 at low temperature, followed by protonation with aqueous HCl. The BH3 protection groups of 1 can be removed by N(C2H4)3N to afford 1,2,4,15-(PPh2)2(H)2C60 (2), which reacts with Os3(CO)10(NCMe)2 to generate the double cluster (Os3(CO)10)2(μ,μ,η3,η3-(PPh2)2(H)2C60) (3). The structure of 3 has been determined by an X-ray diffraction study, where 1 is linked to two Os3 clusters through the two phosphine groups and two 6:6-junctions of C60.