Molecular niobium(v) complexes with mononuclear {Nb1} and dinuclear oxo species {Nb2O} connected through aryl di- or tetra-carboxylate linker

Abstract

Several aryl polycarboxylic ligands (pyromellitic acid, 4,4′-azobenzenedicarboxylic acid and 3,3′,5,5′-azobenzenetetracarboxylic acid) have been used to react with the pentavalent ethoxide niobium(V) precursor Nb(OEt)₅. Three new crystalline molecular compounds (1 with pyromellitate, 2 with 4,4′-azobenzenedicarboxylate and 3 with 3,3′,5,5′-azobenzenetetracarboxylate) were isolated from slow crystallization at room temperature from the mother liquid containing the precursor Nb(OEt)₅. They are composed of one polycarboxylate ligand fully coordinated to mononuclear or dinuclear octahedrally-coordinated niobium(V) units. For the dimers, the two adjacent niobium centers are bridged by one μ-O and one μ-OEt groups and complexed by only one of the syn–syn bidentate carboxylate function arms from the polytopic ligand. Compounds 1–3 were characterized in solid state by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Insight into the formation of the three compounds was supported by the help of infrared and liquid ¹H NMR spectroscopy.