Anionic Halomolybdate(III) Chemistry. Tetrahydrofuran Loss from [MoX(3)Y(THF)(2)](-) (X, Y = Cl, Br, I), Preparation and Properties of [Mo(3)X(12)](3)(-) (X = Br, I), and Crystal Structure of the Edge-Sharing Trioctahedral [PPh(4)](3)[Mo(3)I(12)

By interaction of MoX(3)(THF)(3) with Cat]X in THF, the salts Cat]MoX(4)(THF)(2)] have been synthesized X = I, Cat = PPh(4), NBu(4), NPr(4), (Ph(3)P)(2)N; X = Br, Cat = NBu(4), PPh(4) (Ph(3)P)(2)N]. Mixed-halide species MoX(3)Y(THF)(2)](-) (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) have also been generated in solution and investigated by (1)H-NMR. When the tetraiodo, tetrabromo, and mixed bromoiodo salts are dissolved in CH(2)Cl(2), clean loss of all coordinated THF is observed by (1)H-NMR. On the other hand, MoCl(4)(THF)(2)](-) loses only 1.5 THF/Mo. The salts Cat](3)Mo(3)X(12)] (X = Br, I) have been isolated from Cat]MoX(4)(THF)(2)] or by running the reaction between MoX(3)(THF)(3) and Cat]X directly in CH(2)Cl(2). The crystal structure of PPh(4)](3)Mo(3)I(12)] exhibits a linear face-sharing trioctahedron for the trianion: triclinic, space group P&onemacr;; a = 11.385(2), b = 12.697(3), c = 16.849(2) ?; alpha = 76.65(2), beta = 71.967(12), gamma = 84.56(2) degrees; Z = 1; 431 parameters and 3957 data with I > 2sigma(I). The metal-metal distance is 3.258(2) ?. Structural and magnetic data are consistent with the presence of a metal-metal sigma bond order of (1)/(2) and with the remaining 7 electrons being located in 7 substantially nonbonding orbitals. The ground state of the molecule is predicted to be subject to a Jahn-Teller distortion, which is experimentally apparent from the nature of the thermal ellipsoid of the central Mo atom. The Mo(3)X(12)](3)(-) ions reacts with phosphines (PMe(3), dppe) to form products of lower nuclearity by rupture of the bridging Mo-X bonds.