The reaction of
[Cl2OMo(μ-OC2H5)2(μ-HOC2H5)MoOCl2]
(1) with 5 equiv of PMe3 provides a simple route
to
pure
mer-MoOCl2(PMe3)3
(3), so that its crystal structure could be determined
[C9H27Cl2MoOP3,
monoclinic,
P21/c, a =
17.138(3) Å, b = 12.808(3) Å, c =
19.226(4) Å, β = 115.99(1)°, Z = 8].
The mechanism of the
conversion of 1 to 3 is complex, but one of the
intermediates, MoOCl3(PMe3)2
(4), can be isolated and crystallized,
if 1 is reacted only with 3 instead of 5 equiv of
PMe3. 4 further reacts with an excess of
PMe3 to yield 3,
providing additional evidence for its intermediacy. The crystal
structure of 4 could be determined
[C6H18Cl3MoOP2, monoclinic, P21/n,
a = 6.468(1) Å, b = 12.677(2) Å,
c = 17.791(2) Å, β = 92.64(1)°, Z
= 4]. If 4 is
not isolated directly after the reaction and its crystallization is
attempted from the raw mixture, two different
compounds are obtained and their crystal structures were determined:
MoOCl3(OPMe3)(PMe3) (5)
[C6H18Cl3MoO2P2, monoclinic,
P21/n, a = 6.783(3)
Å, b = 12.623(4) Å, c = 18.298(8)
Å, β = 98.58(3)°, Z = 4] and
Mo4O4Cl4(μ2-OC2H5)4(PMe3)2(μ3-O)2
(6)
[C14H38Cl4Mo4O10P2,
monoclinic, P21/c, a =
1117.6(2) Å, b = 1161.6(2) Å, c = 1277.1(3) Å, β = 109.84(1)°,
Z = 2]. 4 reacts slowly with
CH2Cl2 producing
[Me3PH]+[MoOCl4(PMe3)]-
(7), which can also be found among the products of attempts
to crystallize 4 from
CH2Cl2/petroleum ether
mixtures,
while its treatment with an excess of HCl produces
[Me3PH]2
+[MoOCl5]2-
(8). The mechanism of the stepwise
fragmentation of 1 yielding 3−7 is
discussed.