Tetranuclear and Pentanuclear Vanadium(IV/V) Carboxylate Complexes: [V(4)O(8)(NO(3))(O(2)CR)(4)](2-) and [V(5)O(9)X(O(2)CR)(4)](2-) (X = Cl(-), Br(-)) Salts

The syntheses and properties of tetra- and pentanuclear vanadium(IV,V) carboxylate complexes are reported. Reaction of (NBzEt(3))(2)VOCl(4)] (1a) with NaO(2)CPh and atmospheric H(2)O/O(2) in MeCN leads to formation of (NBzEt(3))(2)V(5)O(9)Cl(O(2)CPh)(4)] 4a; a similar reaction employing (NEt(4))(2)VOCl(4)] (1b) gives (NEt(4))(2)V(5)O(9)Cl(O(2)CPh)(4)] (4b). Complex 4a.MeCN crystallizes in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with the following unit cell dimensions at -148 degrees C: a = 13.863(13) ?, b = 34.009(43) ?, c = 12.773(11) ?, and Z = 4. The reaction between (NEt(4))(2)VOBr(4)] (2a) and NaO(2)CPh under similar conditions gives (NEt(4))(2)V(5)O(9)Br(O(2)CPh)(4)] (6a), and the use of (PPh(4))(2)VOBr(4)] (2b) likewise gives (PPh(4))(2)V(5)O(9)Br(O(2)CPh)(4)] (6b). Complex 6b crystallizes in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with the following unit cell dimensions at -139 degrees C: a = 18.638(3) ?, b = 23.557(4) ?, c = 12.731(2) ?, and Z = 4. The anions of 4a and 6b consist of a V(5) square pyramid with each vertical face bridged by a &mgr;(3)-O(2)(-) ion, the basal face bridged by a &mgr;(4)-X(-) (X = Cl, Br) ion, and a terminal, multiply-bonded O(2)(-) ion on each metal. The RCO(2)(-) groups bridge each basal edge to give C(4)(v)() virtual symmetry. The apical and basal metals are V(V) and V(IV), respectively (i.e., the anions are trapped-valence). The reaction of 1b with AgNO(3) and Na(tca) (tca = thiophene-2-carboxylate) in MeCN under anaerobic conditions gives (NEt(4))(2)V(4)O(8)(NO(3))(tca)(4)] (7). Complex 7.H(2)O crystallizes in space group C2/c with the following unit cell dimensions at -170 degrees C: a = 23.606(4) ?, b = 15.211(3) ?, c = 23.999(5) ?, and Z = 4. The anion of 7 is similar to those of 4a and 6b except that the apical VO] unit is absent, leaving a V(4) square unit, and the &mgr;(4)-X(-) ion is replaced with a &mgr;(4),eta(1)-NO(3)(-) ion. The four metal centers are now at the V(IV), 3V(V) oxidation level, but the structure indicates four equivalent V centers, suggesting an electronically delocalized system. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data were collected on powdered samples of 4b, 6a, and 7 in the 2.00-300 K range in a 10 kG applied field. 4b and 6a both show a slow increase in effective magnetic moment (&mgr;(eff)) from approximately 3.6-3.7 &mgr;(B) at 320 K to approximately 4.5-4.6 &mgr;(B) at 11.0 K and then a slight decrease to approximately 4.2 &mgr;(B) at 2.00 K. The data were fit to the theoretical expression for a V(IV)(4) square with two exchange parameters J = J(cis)() and J' = J(trans)() (H = -2JS(i)()S(j)()): fitting of the data gave, in the format 4b/6a, J= +39.7/+46.4 cm(-)(1), J' = -11.1/-18.2 cm(-)(1) and g = 1.83/1.90, with the complexes possessing S(T) = 2 ground states. The latter were confirmed by magnetization vs field studies in the 2.00-30.0 K and 0.500-50.0 kG ranges: fitting of the data gave S(T) = 2 and D = 0.00 cm(-)(1) for both complexes, where D is the axial zero-field splitting parameter. Complex 7 shows a nearly temperature-independent &mgr;(eff) (1.6-2.0 &mgr;(B)) consistent with a single d electron per V(4) unit. The (1)H NMR spectra of 4b and 6a in CD(3)CN are consistent with retention of their pentanuclear structure on dissolution. The EPR spectrum of 7 in a toluene/MeCN (1:2) solution at approximately 25 degrees C yields an isotropic signal with a 29-line hyperfine pattern assignable to hyperfine interactions with four equivalent I = (7)/(2) (51)V nuclei.