Photochemistry of (η-C5Me5)Re(CO)3: preparation and X-ray crystal structure of (η-C5Me5)2Re2(µ-CO)3

Ultraviolet irradiation of (η-C5Me5)Re(CO)3 forms the stable complexes (η-C5Me5)Re2(µ-CO)(Co)4 and (η-C5Me5)2Re2(µ-CO)3; the length of the formal Re–Re triple bond in the latter is determined by X-ray diffraction to be 2·411 (1)A.