Diverse reactivity of stereoisomers containing quadruply bonded dimolybdenum with oxygen: formation of [{Mo(η-N,N′-diisopropylbenzamidinato)oxo}2(μ-acetato)2(μ-oxo)]

The reactions of quadruply bonded dimolybdenum complex, [Mo2(μ-OAc)4] (1), with Li[(NiPr)2CR] (R = tBu; 2a, Me; 2b, Ph; 2c), were investigated systematically. In the reaction of 1 with 2c, [Mo2(μ-OAc)2{μ-(NiPr)2CPh}2] (4) was formed accompanied by the formation of its stereoisomer 5. Complex 5 readily reacted with dry oxygen to give dinuclear Mo(V)-oxo complex, [{Mo(η-(NiPr)2CPh)oxo}2(μ-OAc)2(μ-oxo)] (6), which has a Mo-Mo single bond.