Stable tungsten-iridium binuclear acyl hydride and carbene hydride complexes

The preparation of the very stable complex WIrH(..mu..-PPh/sub 2/)/sub 2/-(CO)/sub 5/(PPh/sub 3/) is described with reactions included. The complex was characterized spectroscopically and by single-crystal x-ray diffraction studies. Reactions of the complex yielded binuclear acyl hydride and carbene hydride complexes which are the first reported examples of heterobimetallic compounds. (BLM)