Synthesis and molecular geometry of unique lithium isopropoxide assisted tantalum isopropoxide cluster containing bidentate N,O-ketiminate ligands

A unique cluster of lithium isopropoxide assisted tantalum isopropoxide derivative incorporating bidentate ketiminate ligand is reported and structurally characterized. Reaction between Li(OCMeCHCMeNAr) and TaCl5 in toluene at room temperature generates compound 1, (OCMeCHCMeNAr)TaCl4, in relatively high yield. Further reacting of 1 with excess amount of (LiOPr)-O-i in diethylether affords the tantalum-lithium bimetallic cluster {[Li(OCMeCHCMeNAr)]Ta((OPr)-Pr-i)(5)((LiOPr)-Pr-i)(LiCl)}(2) (2). The molecular geometry of 2 reveals as an edge-sharing bis(open-cube) that it consists two Li-Cl edge-sharing bis(open-cube)TaLi3O5Cl units in its core structure. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A unique cluster of lithium isopropoxide assisted tantalum isopropoxide derivative with bidentate ketiminate ligand has been reported and characterized. The reaction between Li(OCMeCHCMeNAr) and TaCl5 generates the compound (OCMeCHCMeNAr)TaCl4 in high yield. Further reaction with excess (LiOPr)-O-i yields the tantalum-lithium bimetallic cluster with an edge-sharing bis(open-cube) structure.