Investigation of the synthesis of {Mo(eta(5)-C5H5)(CO)(3)}(+) fragments partnered with the monoanionic carboranes [closo-CB11H11Br](-), [closo-CB11H6Br6](-) and [closo-HCB11Me11](-) by silver salt metathesis and hydride abstraction

Abstraction of iodide from [Cp(CO)(3)MoI] (Cp = eta(5)- C5H5) using the silver salt of the weakly coordinating anion [closo-CB11H11Br](-), initially affords an intermediate dimeric complex, [MoCp(CO)(3)I.Ag(CB11H11Br)](2), which has a central {AgI}(2) core appended by two carborane anions in the solid state. Prolonged reaction does result in elimination of AgI to form [MoCp(CO)(3)(CB11H11Br)], but not cleanly. This complex can be isolated in good yield by hydride abstraction from [Cp(CO)(3)MoH] using the new trityl salt [CPh3][closo-CB11H11Br]. Similarly, reaction of this hydride source with [CPh3][closo-CB11H6Br6] in CD2Cl2 results in hydride abstraction, but a mixture of products is formed, suggested to consist of the hydride bridged dimer, [{Cp(CO)(3)Mo}(2)(mu-H)][closo-CB11H6Br6], the anion coordinated complex [Cp(CO)(3)Mo(closo-CB11H6Br6)] and the solvent adduct [Cp(CO)(3)Mo(ClCD2Cl)][closo-CB11H6Br6]. Reaction of Ag[closo-HCB11Me11] with [Cp(CO)(3)MoX] (X = Cl, I) results in a intermediate complex which has a [Cp(CO)(3)MoX](6)Ag-2 central core (crystallographically characterised for X = I) with no interactions from the permethylated carborane anions. Prolonged reaction does result in partial AgX elimination to form the halide-bridged dimers [{CpMo(CO)(3)}(2)(mu-X)][ closo-HCB11Me11]. Hydride abstraction from [Cp(CO)(3)MoH] using the new trityl salt [CPh3][closo-HCB11Me11] resulted in the clean formation of the hydride- bridged dimer [{Cp(CO)(3)Mo}(2)(mu-H)][closo-HCB11Me11]. The two anions [closo-CB11H6Br6](-) and [closo-HCB11Me11](-) have been compared with [B(ArF')(4)](-) [Ar-F' = 3,5-bis( trifluoromethyl) phenyl] in Bullock's ionic hydrogenation of 3-pentanone using [Cp(CO)(2)(PPh3) Mo](+) catalysts. The permethylated anion slightly outperforms its hexabrominated congener in catalysis, but is still slower than [B(Ar-F')(4)](-).