Reaction of a monomeric titanium hydride with dioxygen does not produce a stable titanium hydroperoxide

The reaction of gaseous O2 under mild conditions with the monomeric titanium hydride (DIPP-O)3TiH(PMe3) (DIPP = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), initially prepared by Nöth, results in loss of the titanium hydride moiety with the isolation of (DIPP-O)3Ti–O–Ti(O-DIPP)3, a dinuclear species containing a μ2-bridging oxo atom. This species has been characterized spectroscopically as well as by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure is a surprisingly rare example of a homoleptic aryloxide derivative of the Ti–O–Ti framework. Speculation upon the route used to form (DIPP-O)3Ti–O–Ti(O-DIPP)3 is also presented.