Manganese, molybdenum, and tungsten carbonyl derivatives incorporating the dimethylbis(1-pyrazolyl)gallate ligand, [Me2Ga(N2C3H3)2]−
The synthesis of a number of six-coordinate manganese, molybdenum, and tungsten carbonyl compounds incorporating both the bidentate bispyrazolyl gallate ligand, [Me2Ga(N2C3H3)2]−, and a neutral pyrazole ligand in a facial coordination arrangement are described. Variable temperature 1H nmr studies have revealed interestingly different behaviours in solution for the valence isoelectronic species [Me2Ga(N2C3H3)2](N2C3H4)Mn(CO)3 and [Me2Ga(N2C3H3)2](N2C3H4)Mo(CO)3−. X-ray structural analyses of crystalline samples of the two compounds have been carried out in an effort to shed light on these behavioural differences. Crystals of [Me2Ga(N2C3H3)2](N2C3H4)Mn(CO)3 are monoclinic, a = 31.053(2), b = 8.0503(4), c = 15.8629(8) Å, β = 108.164(2)°, Z = 8, space group C2/c and crystals of [(C2H5)4N]+{[Me2Ga(N2C3H3)2](N2C3H4)Mo(CO)3}− are monoclinic, a = 10.058(1), b = 20.6488(5), c = 13.533(1) Å, β = 93.800(5)°, Z = 4, space group P21/n. Both structures were solved by Patterson and Fourier syntheses and were refined by full-matrix least-squares procedures to final R values of 0.028 and 0.023 for 2613 and 4388 observed reflections for the Mn and Mo complexes, respectively. The neutral Mn complex and the complex Mo anion both have approximate mirror symmetry and both metal atoms have trigonally distorted octahedral coordination geometry. Important bond distances (corrected for thermal vibration) are: Mn—N, 2.074(3)–2.086(3), Mn—C, 1.795(4)–1.809(5), Mo—N, 2.291(2)–2.295(2), and Mo—C, 1.918(3)–1.936(3) Å. Although structural differences between these two species do offer plausible explanations for the differences observed in solution, it appears that other factors are more important.