Crystal and molecular structure of tetrachlorotris(dimethylphenylphosphine)molybdenum(IV)–ethanol

Abstract

The X-ray analysis of the title compound was based on 2 397 intensity data measured by diffractometer. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method and refined by full-matrix least-squares to R 0.059. Crystals are monoclinic, with a= 11.883(4), b= 11.836(4), c= 23.750(7)Å, β= 104.61(2)°, Z= 4, and space group P2₁/c.

The crystal structure is built of discrete molecular units of [MoCl₄(PMe₂Ph)₃] and EtOH. The co-ordination geometry of the metal complex can be described as capped octahedral, with the MoCl₃(PMe₂Ph)₃ fragment adopting a facial configuration and the fourth chlorine ligand capping the triangular face formed by the phosphorus atoms. Metal–ligand bond lengths are: Mo–Cl(capping) 2.399(3), Mo–Cl(trans to P) 2.440(4)–2.454(4), and Mo–P 2.570(3)–2.579(4)Å.