Low-coordinate and neutral nitrido complexes of vanadium

Abstract

Two neutral and four-coordinate vanadium(V)-nitrido complexes have been prepared via the thermolysis of metastable vanadium(III)-azido precursors. All complexes have been fully characterized by multinuclear NMR, FT-IR, isotopic labeling, and, in most instances, single crystal X-ray diffraction. On the basis of activation parameters, N(2) extrusion to form the V[triple bond]N moiety is proposed to occur via an ordered and early transition state having three- or four-triazametallacycle frameworks. In addition, we demonstrate the nitrido ligand to undergo incomplete N-atom transfer to CO and CN{2,6-Me(2)-C(6)H(3)) to form the bent V-N=C=X (X = O, N{2,6-Me(2)-C(6)H(3)}) ligands with concomitant 2e(-) reduction at the vanadium center.