Notes. Reduction of a dimeric tantalum(III) compound in acetonitrile solution by pulse radiolysis

Abstract

The reduction of the compound [Ta₂Cl₆(4Me-py)₄](4Me-py = 4-methylpyridine), having a metal–metal double bond, has been achieved by pulse radiolysis in dry oxygen-free acetonitrile. The reduction occurs by CH₃CN^– which leads to a transient species assigned to a tantalum dimer in a 2.5 oxidation state. The spectrum of this species has been established. It decays by a first-order process to give a new transient species which in turn decays more slowly by a second-order reaction.