Synthesis and characterization of a tetraradical-containing octanuclear vanadium cluster formed via ligand C–N bond breaking and C–O bond making

Abstract

A tetraradical-containing octanuclear vanadium cluster (V₈, complex 2) was synthesized by reacting N(2-methoxyanilino)-3,5-di-tert-butylphenol and VOSO₄·5H₂O in the presence of Et₃N in MeOH. The reaction proceeded via a ligand centre C–N bond cleavage and C–O bond formation. The V₈ cluster was comprised of two identical V₄ clusters where one V₄ cluster was replicated by the other by an inversion centre. A strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two V₄ clusters, having S = 1/2 spin state each, provided a diamagnetic ground state.