Reaction between
[(Me3Si)2N]2V(Br)(THF)
and (THF)2LiER (E = Se,Te; R =
Si(SiMe3)3, SiPh3) afforded
the
three-coordinate
[(Me3Si)2N]2VER complexes in
60−80% yield. The −SeSi(SiMe3)3
complex and both of the
−TeR derivatives were characterized crystallographically, and their
X-ray structures are presented for comparative
purposes. The structures feature a three-coordinate vanadium
center with agostic interactions between two
C−H groups of the amido trimethylsilyl ligands at the vacant apical
coordination sites of vanadium. Reaction
of
[(Me3Si)2N]2V(Br)(THF)
with (DME)LiSeC(SiMe3)3 (DME =
1,2-dimethoxyethane) afforded the vanadium(IV) dimer
{[(Me3Si)2N]2V(μ-Se)}2
in moderate yield. X-ray crystallography confirmed a dimeric
structure in
the solid state with a long V−V distance of 3.044(1) Å.
The three-coordinate compounds were oxidized
by styrene oxide, propylene sulfide, and Ph3PSe or Se
to yield the oxo−, sulfide−, and selenide−vanadium(V) complexes, respectively; these derivatives were characterized
by 1H, 13C{1H}, and
51V NMR spectroscopy.
[(Me3Si)2N]2V(E‘)[SeSi(SiMe3)3]
(E‘ = O, S, Se) and
[(Me3Si)2N]2V(O)[TeSi(SiMe3)3]
were isolated as deeply
colored, crystalline solids and
[(Me3Si)2N]2V(Se)[SeSi(SiMe3)3]
was characterized crystallographically. Styrene
oxide also reacted with
[(Me3Si)2N]2V(Br)(THF)
affording
[(Me3Si)2N]2V(O)(Br)
as orange crystals in 70% yield.
In general, the vanadium(V) selenolates are more stable than
the tellurolates, the latter being susceptible to
reduction.
For example,
[(Me3Si)2N]2V(E)[TeSi(SiMe3)3]
(E = S, Se) cleanly decomposes in solution affording
Te2[Si(SiMe3)3]2
and
{[(Me3Si)2N]2V(μ-E)}2.
The compounds
[(Me3Si)2N]2V(O)(X)
(X = Br, SeSi(SiMe3)3) thermally
rearrange
to the siloxide−imido species,
[(Me3Si)2N](Me3SiN)V(OSiMe3)(X).
The isomerization occurs more readily when
X = Br, where kinetic data demonstrated the reaction to be first
order in starting material, implicating an
intramolecular 1,3-trimethylsilyl migration from N to O.
Activation parameters (ΔH
⧧= 26 ± 1
kcal mol-1 and
ΔS
⧧= −0.60 ± 2 eu) are in the range of
those determined for the related thermal rearrangement of
β-ketosilanes
to siloxyalkenes.