Formation of Mo(NAr)(PMe₃)₂Cl₃and Mo₂(PMe₃)₄Cl₄from Reduction of Mo(NAr)₂Cl₂(DME) with Mg in the Presence of PMe₃[Ar=2,6-diisopropylphenyl]

Magnesium reduction of Mo(N-C6H3-2,6-i-Pr2)2Cl2(DME) in the presence of trimethylphosphine led to a mixture of Mo(N-C6H3-2,6-i-Pr2)(PMe3)2Cl3, 1, and Mo2(PMe3)4Cl4, 2. In solution 1 is slowly air-oxidized to Mo(N-2,6-i-Pr2-C6H3)(OPMe3)(PMe3)Cl3, 3. 1 is chemically inert to carbon nucleophiles (ZnMe2, ZnEt2, AlMe3, AlEt3, LiCp, NaCp, TlCp, NaCp*, MeMgBr, EtMgBr), oxygen nucleophiles (LiOEt, LiO-i-Pr, LiOPh, LiOSPh), and hydrides (LiBEt3H, LiBEt3D). Crystal data for 1: orthorhombic space group P212121, a=11.312(3) Å, b=11.908(3) Å, c=19.381(6) Å, Z=4, R(wR2)=0.0463 (0.1067). Crystal data for 2: monoclinic space group Cc, a=18.384(3) Å, b=9.181(2) Å, c=19.118(3) Å, b=124.98(1)°, Z=4, R(wR2)=0.0228 (0.0568). Crystal data for 3: orthorhombic space group P212121, a=11.464(1) Å, b=14.081(2) Å, c=16.614(3) Å, Z=4, R(wR2)=0.0394 (0.0923).