Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure elucidation of an organometallic oxide containing Nb and Sn

Abstract

The organometallic oxide (η 5-C 5H 5) 2Nb(Cl)(μ-O)Sn(Ph) 2Cl 2, 2, was prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. The molecular structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. The Nb atom is in a pseudotetrahedral coordination geometry environment comprised of the two Cp rings and the chlorine and oxygen atoms. The coordination geometry around the Sn atom is a distorted trigonal bipyramidal.The determined Nb–O bond distance of 1.789(6) Å indicates a partial double bonding between Nb and O. Although the Sn–O bond can be described as a dative bond, it is a very strong interaction, 2.22(16) Å. The formation of 2 involved the activation of one of the Sn–C phenyl bonds of the tin starting material. Residual water present in the reaction solvent was the source of the bridging oxygen in the molecule.