Structures of 355-1355-1355-1tricarbonyl: structural evidence for the near-electroneutrality of the dialkylacetal substituent

The structures of the (benzene dialkylacetal)tricarbonyl chromium complexes ⁶-C₆H₅-CH(OR)₂]Cr(CO)₆ (R=Me,1; Et,2), are reported. The compounds were examined as part of a study of the conformations of the tripodal tricarbonylchromium group. For ⁶-C₆H₅-CH(OMe)₂]Cr(CO)₃,1, monoclinic,P2₁/c (# 14),a=15.235(1) Å,b=6.5304(5) Å,c=12.702 Å, =103.197(1)^o,Z=4. For ⁶-C₆H₅-CH(OEt)₂]Cr(CO)₃,2, monoclinic,P2₁/c (# 14),a=9.859(3) Å,b=10.547(3) Å,c=15.138(3) Å, =108.42(2)^o,Z=4. The data show that the molecules adopt the expected three-legged piano stool structure. The carbonyl ligands in1 adopt an eclipsed arrangement with respect to the arene ring and its substituent, while those in2 are staggered. These conformations are consistent with the notion that the acetal substituent behaves largely as an electroneutral group, or at most as a weak electronic acceptor.