Bis(μ[subscript 2]-η[superscript 2]:η[superscript 2]-2,4,6-trimethylbenzonitrile)bis[(N-isopropyl-3,5-dimethylanilido)molybdenum(III)](Mo-Mo)

Abstract

The title compound, [Mo[subscript 2](C[subscript 11]H[subscript 16]N)[subscript 4](C[subscript 10]H[subscript 11]N)[subscript 2]], is a dinuclear molybdenum complex with a formal metal-metal bond [Mo...Mo separation = 2.5946 (8) Å], four anilide-type ligands and two bridging mesityl nitrile groups. There are two inversion symmetric molecules in the unit cell (an inversion center is localized at the mid-point of the Mo-Mo bond), each with approximate non-crystallographic C[subscript 2h] symmetry. The molecules contain disordered isopropyl and 3,5-C[subscript 6]H[subscript 3]Me[subscript 2] groups on different anilido ligands; the major component having an occupancy of 0.683 (7). The complex was obtained in low yield as the product from the reaction between the bridging pyrazine adduct of molybdenum tris-anilide ([μ[subscript 2-](C[subscript 4]H[subscript 4]N[subscript 2]){Mo(C[subscript 11]H[subscript 16]N)[subscript 3]}[subscript 2]]) and mesityl nitrile with a loss of one anilido ligand.