Structural characterization of the anionic halfsandwich complex image and its reactivity towards stannanes and distannanes

The crystal structure of the molybdenum half sandwich alkali salt [Li(TMEDA)2][Mo(η5-C5H5)(CO)3] shows the occurrence of a separated ion pair in the solid state. Furthermore, the crystal structures of the long known organotin complexes [Mo(η5-C5H5)(SnMe3)(CO)3], [{Mo(η5-C5H5)(CO)3}2SnMe2] and [Mo(η5-C5H5)(SnMeCl2)(CO)3] have been recorded. The chlorination of [Mo(η5-C5H5)(SnMe3)(CO)3] with SnCl4 is presented as an improved synthetic access to [Mo(η5-C5H5)(SnMeCl2)(CO)3]. Finally, the reaction of Li[Mo(η5-C5H5)(CO)3] with tBu2(Cl)Sn–Sn(Cl)tBu2 leads to the novel molybdenum distannane complex [Mo(η5-C5H5){SntBu2-Sn(Cl)tBu2}(CO)3], which is fully characterized by NMR, elemental and X-ray analysis.