Isolation of a Strongly Bent Tantalum Imido Complex

The reaction of 1 with Cp*TaCl4 led to the formation of the imido-amido tantalum complex 2, via elimination of Me3SiCl. This compound was structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The most unusual feature of this molecule is the rather acute Ta=N-C bond angle of 116.3(4)°, making it the most bent transition metal imido complex reported. We attribute this bending to the steric restrictions imposed on the imido linkage by the chelating biphenyl ligand.

(Ta-imido synthesis)

Sructural Features:

Three-legged piano stool.
Acute imido bond angle Ta=N-C = 116.3(4)°.
Long Ta=N bond, 1.830(5) Å.
Ta-N' 1.988(6) Å
Ta-N'-C 114.6(4)°
N-Ta-N' 98.8(2)°

P21/c, R = 3.2%


[PREVIOUS] [NEXT]

Note:You need to have the MDL Chime plug-in installed, in order to see the really cool graphics!


Tomislav Gountchev

...e-mail me at: tomi@gountchev.net