Seven-coordinate halocarbonyl complexes of the type [MXY(CO)3(NCMe)2] (M = Mo, W; X, Y = halide, pseudo halide) as highly versatile starting materials
Abstract
The fortuitous discovery of the seven-coordinate complexes [MI2(CO)3(NCMe)2] (M = Mo or W) is described; the wide- ranging chemistry of these compounds is discussed together with the use of the effective atomic number rule in predicting their reactions. The four structural types of seven-coordinate halocarbonyl complexes derived from [MI2(CO)3(NCMe)2] are described. The applications of the [MXY(CO)3(NCMe)2] (X = Y = Br, I; X = Cl, Br, Y = I; X =Cl, Y = GeCl3, SnCl3) system in both alkene metathesis catalysis and nitrogen fixation are also discussed. The synthesis of organometallic complexes containing six different ligands together with the preparation and stereochemical properties of the first structurally characterised {MABCDEF}2 dimer, [Cl(CO)(PPh3)(η2-MeC2Me)Mo(µ-NCS)(µ-SCN)MoCl(CO)(PPh3)(η2-MeC2Me)] are described.