The crystal structure of μ-Oxo-bis{diethoxy[salicylaldoximato(2-)]-tantalum(V)}

Stochiometric reaction of salicylaldoxime and tantalum or niobium ethoxide in toluene at room temperature resulted in formation of [M2O(C7H5NO2)2(C2H5O)4], M=Ta and Nb which were crystallized from CH2Cl2 at −5 °C and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The molecular structures of [Ta2O(C7H5NO2)2(C2H5O)4] was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and compared with molecular structure of [Nb2O(C7H5NO2)2(C2H5O)4]. The geometries at metal atoms are distorted octahedron which shared an apex through bridged oxygen. Each dianionic salicylaldoximate ligand chelates to the one metal ion through its phenolic oxygen and oximate nitrogen atoms, and to another metal ion through its oximate oxygen atom.