Combining a Low Valent Molybdenum(0) Center with a Strongly σ-Donating Mesoionic Carbene Chelate Ligand—Synthesis and Structural Characterization

Abstract

Triazolylidene ligands belong to a class of N-heterocyclic carbenes of growing chemical interest. Their precursors are readily available using Click chemistry and, therefore, highly modular for tuning their electronic characteristics. Due to their notable donor properties, these ligands are particularly suitable for modulating the electronic properties of the central ions of their complexes. Here, a bidentate bistriazolylidene which is a particularly strong donor ligand is combined with a low valent molybdenum(0) center and four carbon monoxide molecules as co-ligands. The novel complex exhibits characteristic electrochemical and IR-spectroscopic behavior. An X-ray structural analysis provides metrical details which are not entirely in agreement with spectroscopic data, likely going back to crystal packing effects. In comparison with precursor and ligand SCXRD data, notable geometrical changes induced by the coordination of the ligand to the metal can be observed. The analyses strongly support the bistriazolylidene ligand as being a particularly good donor of electron density towards the central metal. Potentially, these findings may support, in the future, the design of potent catalysts for the reductive activation of small molecules.