New metal-organic polygons involving MM quadruple bonds: M 8(O2CtBu)4(μ-SC4H 2-3,4-{CO2}2)6 (M = Mo, W)

Matthew J. Byrnes, Malcolm H. Chisholm, Nathan J. Patmore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The reactions between M2(O2CtBu) 4, where M = Mo or W, and thienyl-3,4-dicarboxylic acid (0.5-1.5 equiv) in toluene proceed via a series of detectable intermediates to the compounds M8(O2CtBu)4(μ-SC 4H2-SC4H2-3,4-{CO2} 2)6, which are isolated as air-sensitive yellow (M = Mo) or red (M = W) powders and show parent molecular ions in , their mass spectra (MALDI). The structure of the molybdenum complex was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and shown to contain an unusual M 8 polygon involving four Mo2 quadruply bonded units linked via the agency of the six 3,4-thienylcarboxylate groups. The structure has crystallographically imposed S4 symmetry and may be described in terms of a highly distorted tetrahedron of Mo2 units or a bisphenoid in which two Mo2 units are linked by a thienyldicarboxylate such that intramolecular Mo2⋯O bonding is present, while the other thienylcarboxylate bridges merely serve to link these two [Mo 2]⋯[Mo2] units together. The color of the compounds arises from intense M2 δ-to-thienyl π* transitions and, in THF, the complexes are redox-active and show four successive quasi-reversible oxidation waves. The [M8]+ radical cations, generated by one-electron oxidation with AgPF6, are shown to be valence-trapped (class II) by UV-vis-near-IR and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. These results are supported by the electronic structure calculations on model compounds M8(O2CH) 4(μ-SC4H2-3,4-{CO}2)6 employing density functional theory that reveal only a small splitting of the M2 δ manifold via mixing with the 3,4-thienylcarboxylate π system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9347-9352
Number of pages6
JournalInorganic Chemistry
Volume44
Issue number25
Early online date11 Nov 2005
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Dec 2005
Externally publishedYes

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