The reaction behavior of [Cp2Mo2(CO)4(μ,η2:2-P2)] and [Cp′′Ta(CO)2(η4-P4)] towards hydroxide and tert-butyl nucleophiles

The reaction behavior of [Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)(mu,eta(2:2)-P-2)] (1) and [Cp '' Ta(CO)(2)(eta(4)-P-4)] (2), respectively, towards the anions OH- and Bu-t(-) are reported. While the reaction of 1 with KOH gives the anionic complex [Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)(mu-PH2)](-) (3) under a formal phosphorus atom abstraction, reaction with (LiBu)-Bu-t leads to the alkylation product [Cp2Mo2(CO)(4)(mu,eta(2:1)-(PPBu)-Bu-t)](-) (4). The reactions of 2 with [IDipp-H][OH] ([IDipp-H](+) = 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl)imidazolium) and (LiBu)-Bu-t yield [Cp '' Ta(CO)(2){eta(3)-P-4(O)H}](-) (5) and [Cp '' Ta(CO)(2)(eta(3)-(P4Bu)-Bu-t)](-) (6), respectively. Compounds 3, 4, 5 and 6 were comprehensively characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structure analysis.