The Extraordinary Ability of Guanidinate Derivatives to Stabilize Higher Oxidation Numbers in Dimetal Units by Modification of Redox Potentials: Structures of Mo25+ and Mo26+ Compounds

Abstract

Full characterization of the first homologous series of dimolybdenum paddlewheel compounds having electronic configurations of the types σ²π⁴δ^x, x = 2, 1, 0, and Mo−Mo bond orders of 4, 3.5, and 3, respectively, has been accomplished with the guanidinate-type ligand hpp (hpp = the anion of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine). Essentially quantitative oxidation of Mo₂(hpp)₄, 1, by CH₂Cl₂ gives Mo₂(hpp)₄Cl, 2. The halide in 2 can be replaced by reaction with TlBF₄ to produce Mo₂(hpp)₄(BF₄), 3. Further oxidation of 2 by AgBF₄ produces Mo₂(hpp)₄ClBF₄, 4. The change from bond order 4 (in 1) to 3.5 in Mo₂(hpp)₄Cl is accompanied by an increase in the Mo−Mo bond length of 0.061 to 2.1280(4) Å. A further increase of 0.044 Å in the Mo−Mo distance to 2.172(1) Å is observed as the bond order decreases to 3 in 4. At the same time, the Mo−N distances decrease smoothly as the oxidation state of the Mo atoms increases. Electrochemical studies have shown two chemically reversible processes at very negative potentials, = −0.444 V and = −1.271 V versus Ag/AgCl. These correspond to the processes Mo₂^6+/5+ and Mo₂^5+/4+, respectively. The latter potential is displaced by over 1.5 V relative to those of the Mo₂(formamidinate)₄ compounds and the first one has never been observed in such complexes. Thus, in surprising contrast to previously observed behavior of the dimolybdenum unit, when it is surrounded by the very basic guanidinate ligand hpp, there is an extraordinary stabilization of the higher oxidation numbers of the molybdenum atoms.