Development of the coordination chemistry of vanadium through bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV): synthesis, reactivity and structural aspects

[VO(acac)(2)] serves as a good precursor and undergoes ligand exchange reaction where one or both acetylacetonato groups can easily be exchanged with organic ligands having coordinating atoms of different potentialities. Usually oxovanadium(IV) complexes form when [VO(acac)(2)] reacts with ligands under anhydrous conditions. Under aerobic conditions most vanadium complexes stabilize in their highest oxidation state (i.e. V). Factors such as nature of ligands, solvents, pH of the reaction and reaction medium etc. have, however, great influence on the stoichiometry and nature of the resulting complexes. The synthesis and structural characterization of these oxovanadium(V) and dioxovanadium(V) species and their reactivities are considered in this review. Complexes containing phosphorus, and macrocyclic, ligands have also been incorporated. The abstraction of oxygen from [VO(acac)(2)] under typical reaction conditions and design of non-oxovanadium complexes have also been demonstrated. Relevant coordination chemistry of oxovanadium(IV) is considered where ever necessary. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.