The [Os(III)(CN)6]3- anion is prepared by chemical oxidation in aqueous solution and isolated as yellow prisms of [Ph4P]3[Os(III)(CN)6].6H2O (1). This species crystallizes in the triclinic space group P with cell parameters a = 13.7609(11) A, b = 16.2275(13) A, c = 17.0895(14) A, alpha = 91.4040(10) degrees , beta = 109.3600(10) degrees , gamma = 102.3970(10) degrees , V = 3497.4(5) A(3), and Z = 2. The slightly distorted octahedral moiety displays Os-C and C-N bond lengths that average 2.058 and 1.146 A, respectively. Spin-orbit-coupling splitting of the ground-state term dominates the NIR region of the electronic spectrum and the magnetic behavior of 1. The experimental information points to higher spin delocalization over the coordinated cyanides than in [Fe(III)(CN)6]3-.

Heterometallic compounds comprising copper() and rare-earth cations with carboxylate groups of the 2,2Јoxydiacetato as the connecting ligands, have been investigated. Five isostructural polymers 3), Nd (4) and Pr ( 5)) have been obtained and their structures determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The Ln() cations in 1 to 5 are coordinated by six carboxy and three ether oxygen atoms in the tricapped trigonal prism arrangement and the Cu() cations are bonded to four carboxy oxygens and two apical aqua ligands in a distorted octahedral geometry. The magnetic behaviors of these complexes show very weak antiferromagnetic interaction in the solid.

Twelve new withanolides were isolated from the aerial part of Jaborosa rotacea: five had a spiranoid delta-lactone (1-5); one contained a 26,12-delta-lactone and a C-12-C-23 bond (6); five corresponded to trechonolide-type withanolides with configuration at C-23 opposite of those previously isolated (7, 8, 10-12); two of these have an additional oxido-bridge between C-21 and C-24; finally a withanolide with a hemiketal ring formed between a 21-hydroxyl and a 12-ketone (13) and the closely related jaborosalactone R were also isolated. New compounds were fully characterized by a combination of spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR and MS). The structures of the spiranoid withanolide and of the epimer of trechonolide A were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. Compounds 4, 5, 6, and 8 showed selective phytotoxicity toward monocotyledoneous and dicotyledoneous species.