Structural Characterization of (Arylimido)vanadium(V) Compounds with 2,6-Difluorophenoxide Ligand

The (arylimido)vanadium(V) compound, [(p-MeOC6H4N)-V(OiPr)(3)] was demonstrated to undergo ligand exchange reaction with one or two equivalents of 2,6-difluorophenol, affording the (arylimido)vanadium(V) compounds, [(p-MeOC6H4N)V(OiPr)(2)(O-2,6-F2Ph)] and [(p-MeOC6H4N)V(OiPr)(O-2,6-F2Ph)(2)]. Their X-ray crystallographic analyses elucidated the mu-isopropoxido-bridged dimeric structures, wherein each vanadium atom has a trigonal-bipyramidal arrangement with the imido and bridging isopropoxide ligands in the apical positions. The isopropoxide ligand was selectively employed as a bridging ligand between two central vanadium atoms. On the other hand, the reaction of the (arylimido)vanadium(V) compound, [(p-MeOC6H4N)VCl3] and three equivalents of lithium 2,6-difluorophenoxide gave the (arylimido)vanadium(V) compound, [(p-MeOC6H4N)V(O-2,6-F2Ph)(3)]. In the crystal packing, the thus-obtained compound showed a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal environment at the vanadium atoms with the mu-phenoxido-bridged dimeric structure, wherein the 2,6-difluorophenoxide ligand was found to serve as a bridging ligand.