Arene molybdenum chemistry: some π-allyl, dihydride, dinitrogen, and carbonyl derivatives

Abstract

Bis(arene)molybdenum (arene = benzene, toluene, or mesitylene) react with allyl chloride giving [(arene)Mo(π-C₃H₅)Cl]₂ dimers. With some tertiary phosphines these give (arene)Mo(π-C₃H₅)(R₃P)Cl which, depending on the nature of the phosphine, react with sodium borohydride and an excess of phosphine forming (arene)Mo(R₃P)₃ or (arene) Mo(R₃P)₂H₂. The hydrogen ligands may be reversibly displaced by molecular nitrogen giving dinitrogee derivatives (arene)Mo(R₃P)₂N₂ or [(benzene) Mo(Ph₃P)₂]₂N₂. Dinitrogen may be displaced by carbon monoxidforming (arene)Mo(R₃P)₂CO derivatives. The compound [(toluene)Mo(Ph₃P)₂–N₂–(dmpe)Fe(π-C₅H₅)]⁺BF₄n is also described.