Reaction of [Mo(NCMe)(η2-MeC2Me)2(η-C5H5)][BF4] with cyclooctatetraene (cot) in acetonitrile in the presence of the proton scavenger Na2CO3 affords the neutral complex [Mo(η3,η4-C12H13)(η-C5H5)]1. Analogous reactions between cot and [Mo(NCMe)(η2-EtC2Et)2(η-C5H5)][BF4], [Mo(NCMe)(η2-MeC2Me)2(η5-C9H7)][BF4] and [Mo(NCMe)(η2-EtC2Et)2(η5-C9H7)][BF4] give [Mo(η3,η4-C14H17)(η-C5H5)]2, [Mo(η3,η4-C12H13)(η5-C9H7)]3, and [Mo(η3,η4-C14H17)(η5-C9H7)]4 in good yield. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study on 1 established the presence of an unusual bicyclo[4.2.2]decane ligand, to which a Mo(η-C5H5) fragment is η3,η4-bonded. Although this structure suggests that these complexes are formed via a (6 + 2)π addition reaction, it is proposed that a stepwise process is involved. The chemical reactivity of the complexes 1–4 has been explored. Reaction of 1 or 3 with [CPh3][BF4] affords respectively the cations [Mo(η4,η4-C12H12)(η-C5H5)][BF4]7 and [Mo(η4,η4-C12H12)(η5-C9H7)][BF4]8. Reaction of these bis(1,3-diene) cations with the nucleophiles ‘H–’ and ‘Ph–’ leads to regioselective attack on the exo-η4-1,3-diene moiety. Treatment of 1, 2 and 3 with AgBF4 leads to a one-electron oxidation reaction and formation of the 17-electron species [Mo(C12H13)(η-C5H5)][BF4]10, [Mo(C14H17)(η-C5H5)][BF4]11, and [Mo(C12H13)(η5-C9H7)[BF4]12. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study on 11 indicates the absence of agostic Mo(µ-H)C interactions, the radical cation being best described as a carbon-centred radical η2,η4-bonded to a 16-electron cationic molybdenum centre. Finally, the protonation of 1–4 has been studied, being shown to afford cationic species which adopt different structures in the solid state and in solution. An X-ray crystallographic study on [Mo(η6-C12H13)(µMo,C-H)(η5-C9H7)][CF3SO3], which is formed on reaction of 3 with CF3SO3H, established the presence of an agostic Mo(µ-H)C interaction between a carbon–hydrogen bond β to an alkene moiety, representing an arrested 1,3-hydrogen shift of the type postulated in the initial stage of a metal-assisted isomerisation of an alkene.
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