A flexible [PNP] ligand (forming six-membered chelates
upon coordination)
was employed for the synthesis of niobium(IV) and tantalum(IV) complexes.
Starting from the protioligand (H[PNP]) and the tetrachlorides NbCl4(thf)2 or TaCl4, the trichloro complexes
[PNP]MCl3 (1-M, M = Nb, Ta) were prepared
via in situ deprotonation using LiN(SiMe3)2. Attempts to alkylate complexes 1-M (M
= Nb, Ta), however, were impeded due to their limited solubility in
nonchlorinated solvents. Hence, the lithiated ligand was reacted with
(thf)2Cl3M=CHCMe2Ph (M = Nb, Ta)
to afford the d
0-configured alkylidene
complexes 2-Nb and 2-Ta, respectively. These
meridionally coordinated and freely soluble complexes were found to
be stable in nonchlorinated and chlorinated solvents, even at elevated
temperature. Reduction of compounds 2-M with magnesium
anthracene (2-Nb and 2-Ta) or sodium naphthalide
(2-Ta) afforded the corresponding d
1-configured alkylidenes (3-Nb and 3-Ta), although the reduced niobium derivative was found to decompose
rapidly. A 10-line and an 8-line EPR pattern was detected for 3-Nb (I(93Nb) = 9/2) and 3-Ta (I(181Ta) = 7/2), respectively, confirming the metalloradical
character of each complex. For 3-Ta, the molecular structure
was elucidated by single crystal X-ray diffraction. With the molecular
structure of this d
1-configured (open-shell)
tantalum alkylidene ascertained, its electronic structure was examined
by DFT and CASSCF calculations.