The monometallic bipyridyl complexes [MoTp*(NO)X(L-L)]
[Tp* =
HB(3,5-Me2C3HN2)3;
L-L = 3,3‘-bipyridine,
4,4‘-bipyridine, 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane and X = Cl; L-L
=
4,4‘-NC5H4(CHCH)
n
H4C5N,
n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 (all
trans) and X = Cl, I] and their bimetallic counterparts
[{(NO)MoTp*X}2(L-L)] have been
synthesized, together
with
[MoTp*(NO)Cl{4-NC5H4CHCHC(Me)CHCH}]2.
The single crystal X-ray structure of
[{MoTp*(NO)Cl}2{4,4‘-NC5H4(CHCH)4H4C5N}]
confirms that the polyene chain is in the all-trans
configuration and
exhibits normal bond length alternation with
[r
C
C−rC
C]
= 0.092 Å. The Mo−Mo distance is 20.764(3) Å,
and
the Mo−N(pyridyl) bond distance of 2.196(6) Å indicates a much
lower degree of Mo−(N)ligand π bonding
than that found in related amide complexes where Mo−N(amide)
distances are typically some 0.3 Å shorter.
Cyclic voltammograms of the monometallic complexes contain a
single one-electron reduction process, whereas
those of the bimetallic complexes contain two one-electron processes.
The separation between the two reduction
potentials varies almost linearly with polyene chain length from the
statistical limit of 36 mV in the bipyridyl
dimethyldecapentene derivative to 765 mV in the 4,4‘-bipyridyl
derivative. The isovalent bimetallic complexes
exhibit EPR signals (300 K) which show hyperfine coupling to two
equivalent metal centers with J ≫ A and
are
consistent with the unpaired electrons occupying orbitals which are
predominantly metal in character. Magnetic
measurements indicate the presence of an antiferromagnetic interaction
in
[{MoTp*(NO)Cl}2{4,4‘-NC5H4(CHCH)4H4C5N}] with a coupling
−2J estimated to be ca. 80
cm-1 over a distance of ca. 2
nm.