A Ligand Composed of Dinitrogen and Methyldiphenylphosphane in a Cationic Molybdenum Complex

Abstract

Dinitrogen connects molybdenum and phosphorus: The diazo(triorgano)phosphorane ligand Ph2MePN2 is multiply bonded through its N-terminus to molybdenum in the depicted cationic complex. The Ph2MePN2 ligand was synthesized within molybdenum's coordination sphere by rational assembly from a precursor N2 complex. Computational studies reveal the NN bond to be highly activated in the complex, which nonetheless readily fragments (with N2 loss) upon one-electron reduction.