The reaction of Nb2Cl6(TMEDA)2 with the potassium salt of tripyrrolylmethane in a 1:1
ratio afforded two products which have been isolated and characterized. The first compound
is the dinuclear {[HC(C4H3N)3]Nb(THF)}2·2THF (1), with two trivalent and diamagnetic
metal centers bridged by two tripyrrolyl trianions. Each of the two ligands adopted a rather
unusual bridging mode, with two rings each σ-bonding one of the two metal centers and the
third both π-bonded to one of the two niobium atoms and σ-bonded to the other. The second
product of the reaction is {([H(C4H3N)3]2NbK)2}{Nb4Cl11[K(THF)2]2}·2THF (2), which displays
some unusual features. The complex is ionic, with the cationic {Nb4Cl11[K(THF)2]2}2+ unit
containing the metal in a mixed-valence state. The two positive charges of the cationic moiety
are balanced by two identical anionic {([HC(C4H3N)3]2NbK)2}- units, each containing Nb in
the tetravalent state. Each anion is connected to an identical one by the bridging potassium
atom, thus assembling a linear and anionic polymeric array. A similar reaction carried out
with the lithium salt of the tripyrrolide anion led instead to the simple monomeric and
tetravalent complex {[HC(C4H3N)3]2Nb}{Li(THF)4}2 (3).