Unusual cleavage of phosphaalkynes triple bond in the coordination sphere of transition metals.

The reaction of RCP (R = Me, t Bu, iPr) with Co 2 (CO) 8 and Fe 2 (CO) 9 under mild conditions led to unpredictable fragmentations of the CP triple bond and subsequent formation of clusters with a dimeric Co 3 E (E = P and RC) and an Fe 3 P(CR) core, respectively.