Increasing the solubility of strong reducing agents containing Mo(2)(4+) units and alkyl-substituted guanidinate ligands.
Six very soluble paddlewheel compounds containing Mo2n+ units, n = 4, 5, 6, and two alkyl-substituted bicyclic guanidinate ligands have been synthesized. The quadruply bonded complexes with n = 4, Mo2(TMhpp)4 and Mo2(TEhpp)4, (TMhpp = the anion of 3,3,9,9-tetramethyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-4-ene and TEhpp = the anion of 3,3,9,9-tetraethyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-4-ene) are easily oxidized. The electrode potentials in THF are -1.08 and -1.17 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively, for the Mo(2)(5+/4+) couple. These potentials are in accord with the low ionization potentials for the quadruply bonded compounds. Because of the high solubility of the Mo(2)(4+) compounds in most common organic solvents they are attractive candidates for use as strong reducing agents in homogeneous systems.
Cotton
F Albert
FA
Department of Chemistry and Laboratory of Molecular Structure and Bonding, P.O. Box 30012, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842-3012, USA.
Murillo
Carlos A
CA
Wang
Xiaoping
X
Wilkinson
Chad C
CC