Hydrolysis of Element (White) Phosphorus under the Action of Heterometallic Cubane-Type Cluster {Mo3PdS4}

Reaction of heterometallic cubane-type cluster complexes—[Mo₃{Pd(dba)}S₄Cl₃(dbbpy)₃]PF₆, [Mo₃{Pd(tu)}S₄Cl₃(dbbpy)₃]Cl and [Mo₃{Pd(dba)}S₄(acac)₃(py)₃]PF₆, where dba—dibenzylideneacetone, dbbpy—4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine, tu—thiourea, acac—acetylacetonate, py—pyridine, with white phosphorus (P₄) in the presence of water leads to the formation of phosphorous acid H₃PO₃ as the major product. The crucial role of the Pd atom in the cluster core {Mo₃PdS₄} has been established in the hydrolytic activation of P₄ molecule. The main intermediate of the process, the cluster complex [Mo₃{PdP(OH)₃}S₄Cl₃(dbbpy)₃]⁺ with coordinated P(OH)₃ molecule and phosphine PH₃, have been detected by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy in the reaction mixture.