A metallotricycle: synthesis, one-electron reduction, and crystal structure of the thermally robust complex tris-o-xylidenetungsten(VI), [W(CH2C6H4CH2-o)3]

Abstract

Reaction of [WCl₄(O)] with excess of the di-Grignard reagent oC₆H₄(CH₂MgCl)₂ in tetrahydrofuran (thf) yields [W[graphic omitted]H₂-o)₃](1), a thermally robust, reversible one-electron-reducible complex, of quasi 3/m symmetry with the o-xylidene ligand planes aligned parallel to the molecular axis and unusually folded, with significant, and possibly stabilising, W–π interactions, as shown by its X-ray structure determination, the mean W–C_αH₂ and W–C_β distances being 2·21 and 2·48 Å respectively.