95Mo NMR spectral studies on seven-coordinate molybdenum(II) isocyanide complexes

The ⁹⁵Mo NMR spectra of a series of seven-coordinate molybdenum(II) isocyanide complexes of the types Mo(CNR)_7-nL_n](PF₆)₂ (R = CH₃, CHMe₂, CMe₃, C₆H₁₁, CH₂Ph; L = py, bpy, Me₂bpy, phen, dppe, P-n-Bu₃; n = 0,1,2) Mo(CNC-Me₃)₆X]PF₆ (X = Cl, Br, I) and {Mo(CNCMe₃)₄(NN)}₂(μ-CN)](PF₆)₃ (NN = bpy, Me₂bpy, phen) have been studied. The ⁹⁵Mo chemical shift range for this group of complexes is about 1100 ppm. An increase in the size of the R group attached to the isocyanide ligand generally tends to shield the ⁹⁵Mo nucleus. Replacement of the isocyanide ligand with a phosphorus ligand also increases the shielding, whereas the replacement of isocyanide with a heterocyclic nitrogen donor leads to deshielding by 800–900 ppm. This group of complexes shows a normal halogen dependence, i.e. replacement of Cl^? by Br^? and I^? increases the shielding of the ⁹⁵Mo nucleus. The cyano-bridged cations {Mo(CNCMe₃)₄(NN)}₂(μ-CN)]³⁺ (NN = bpy, Me₂bpy, or phen) show two ⁹⁵Mo NMR signals, one for the molybdenum coordinated to the carbon of the bridging CN and one for the N-coordinated molybdenum. Comparison of the chemical shifts and linewidths of the cyano-bridged species with those of the corresponding mononuclear molybdenum(II) complexes Mo(CNCMe₃)₅(NN)](PF₆)₂ leads to the assignment of the more deshielded signal to the N-coordinated molybdenum. The ¹⁴N and ³¹P NMR spectra for these complexes have also been measured, as have the ¹³C NMR spectra of the pairs of complexes Mo(CNCMe₃)₅(NN)](PF₆)₂ and {Mo(CNCMe₃)₄(NN)}₂(μ-CN)](PF₆)₃ (NN = bpy or phen). The ¹⁸³W NMR spectra for W(CNR)₅(bpy)](PF₆)₂ (R = CMe₃ and CH₂Ph), show that the δ(¹⁸³W)/δ(⁹⁵Mo) chemical shift ratios for isocyanide complexes are different from the ratio found for M⁰ and M^VI.