Reaction of acrylonitrile with halides of titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, and copper

Abstract

Acrylonitrile forms complexes with a number of transition-metal halides in which the bonding is through the nitrogen atom rather than the double bond. Complexes isolated fall into three main categories: MX₅,C₂H₃CN (for M = Nb or Ta; X = Cl or Br); MX₄,2C₂H₃CN (for MX₄= TiCl₄, ZrCl₄, NbCl₄, TaCl₄, NbBr₄, or TaBr₄); MX₃,3C₂H₃CN (for MX₃= TiBr₃ or VBr₃). Reaction of acrylonitrile with other complexes of titanium and vanadium (TiCl₃,3MeCN, TiCl₃,3C₄H₈O, and VCl₃,3MeCN) gave mixed complexes, TiCl₃,MeCN,2C₂H₃CN, TiCl₃,2C₄H₈O,-C₂H₃CN, and VCl₃,2MeCN,C₂H₃CN. The magnetic and spectroscopic properties of the complexes are consistent with six-co-ordinate structures.

Copper(II) chloride reacted to give 3CuCl₂,2C₂H₃CN. Although VCl₄ gave a simple adduct at low temperatures, reduction to the tervalent state occurred readily, especially in the light.