Homoleptic methyl compounds of rhodium and iridium(III). X-Ray crystal structures of tetramethylethylenediamine lithium hexamethyl-rhodate(III) and -iridate(III)

Abstract

The interaction of tetrahydrothiophen (tht) complexes, MCl₃(tht)₃, M = Rh, Ir, with methyl-lithium in Et₂O followed by addition of tetramethylethylenediamine (tmed) gives [Li(tmed)]₃[M(Me)₆] as thermally and air sensitive crystals; the isostructural compounds have a slightly distorted octahedral MMe₆ core with three pairs of cis-methyl groups bridged by Li(tmed) units via Li ⋯ H₃C interactions; the symmetry of the MMe₆ core is lowered from O_h to D₃ by interaction of the MMe₆ core with the Li(tmed) units.