The first nona-osmium cluster species; synthesis and x-ray structure analysis of [Os9(CO)21CHC(R)CH]- (R = Me or Et)

When Os3(CO)12 is heated under reflux in isobutyl alcohol or 2-methylbutan-1-ol the novel cluster monoanions [Os 9(CO)21CHC(R)CH]- (R = Me or Et respectively) are produced in low yield; X-ray analyses of the [N(Ph3P) 2]+ salts of both monoanions show that they both have the same unusual Os9 core with 2 cluster valence-electrons less than the number predicted by the effective atomic number (E.A.N.) rule.