Thermal study of cyclopalladated complexes of the type [Pd<Subscript>2</Subscript>(dmba)<Subscript>2</Subscript>X<Subscript>2</Subscript>(bpe)]

The synthesis, characterization and thermal analysis of the novel cyclometallated compounds [Pd₂(dmba)₂Cl₂(μ-bpe)] (1), [Pd₂(dmba)₂(N₃)₂(μ-bpe)] (2), [Pd₂(dmba)₂(NCO)₂(μ-bpe)] (3), [Pd₂(dmba)₂(SCN)₂(μ-bpe)] (4), [Pd₂(dmba)₂(NO₃)₂(μ-bpe)] (5) (bpe=trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene; dmba=N,N-dimethylbenzylamine) are described. The thermal stability of [Pd₂(dmba)₂X₂(μ-bpe)] complexes varies in the sequence 1>4>3>2>5. The final residues of the thermal decompositions were characterized as metallic palladium by X-ray powder diffraction.     

Deoxygenation of Nitrosobenzene by the Electrogenerated Pd<Subscript>3</Subscript>(dppm)<Subscript>3</Subscript>(μ<Subscript>3</Subscript>-CO) Cluster

The 2-electron reduction of the unsaturated Pd₃(dppm)₃(CO)²⁺ cluster ([Pd₃]²⁺) affords the highly reactive neutral cluster [Pd₃]⁰, which reacts with nitrosobenzene (PhNO) yielding the organic azoxybenzene product (PhN(O)NPh) via the formation of “triplet” nitrene “PhN”. The formation of [Pd₃(μ₃-O)] as a possible (relatively unstable) intermediate is also postulated based on MALDI-TOF findings, but not formally demonstrated. Concurrently, no reaction between [Pd₃]⁰ and OPPh₃ occurs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. This paper is dedicated to Professor Dieter Fenske.     

Reaction of Sulfur and Oxygen-Bridged 8-Quinolinolato Trinuclear Molybdenum Cluster [Mo<Subscript>3</Subscript>OS<Subscript>3</Subscript>(qn)<Subscript>3</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]<Superscript>+</Superscript> with Acetylene Carboxylic Acids

The reaction of a sulfur and oxygen-bridged 8-quinolinolato trinuclear molybdenum cluster [Mo₃OS₃(qn)₃(H₂O)₃]⁺ (3; Hqn = 8-quinolinol) with equimolar amounts of acetylene carboxylic acid, 4-pentynoic acid, 5-hexynoic acid, acetic acid, and pimelic acid gave clusters having μ-carboxylato groups, [Mo₃OS₃(qn)₃(H₂O)(μ-HC≡CCOO)] (6), [Mo₃OS₃(qn)₃(H₂O)(μ-HC≡C(CH₂)₂COO)] (7), [Mo₃OS₃(qn)₃(H₂O)(μ-HC≡C(CH₂)₃COO)] (8), [Mo₃OS₃(qn)₃(H₂O)(μ-CH₃COO)] (4), and [{Mo₃OS₃(qn)₃(C₂H₅OH)}₂(μ-C₇H₁₀O₄)] (5), respectively. X-ray structural analyses, ¹H NMR, and electronic spectra of these clusters made clear that each of the COO⁻ groups of the reagents bridges two Mo atoms in each cluster and that no adduct formation occurred at the sulfurs in the clusters. The reaction of 3 with a large excess-molar amount (50 times) of acetylene carboxylic acid gave [Mo₃OS(μ₃-SCH=C(COOH)S)(qn)₃(H₂O)(μ-HC≡CCOO)] (9) with two molecules of acetylene carboxylic acid, one acting as a carboxylato bridge and the other in adduct formation, as supported by the electronic and ¹H NMR spectra. The corresponding aqua cluster [Mo₃OS₃(H₂O)₉]⁴⁺ (1), on the contrary, reacts with acetylene carboxylic acid to give adduct [Mo₃OS(μ₃-SCH=C(COOH)S)(H₂O)₉]⁴⁺ (2). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Ruthenium Carbonyl Cluster Complexes with Phenylgermyl Ligands from the Reactions of Ph<Subscript>3</Subscript>GeH with Ru(CO)<Subscript>5</Subscript> and Ru<Subscript>3</Subscript>(CO)<Subscript>12</Subscript>

Four new triphenylgermylruthenium carbonyl compounds HRu(CO)₄GePh₃, 14; Ru(CO)₄(GePh₃)₂, 15; Ru₂(CO)₈(GePh₃)₂, 16; and Ru₃(CO)₉(GePh₃)₃(μ-H)₃, 17 were obtained from the reaction of Ru(CO)₅ with Ph₃GeH in hexane solvent at reflux, 68 °C. The major product 14 was formed by loss of CO from the Ru(CO)₅ and an oxidative addition of the GeH bond of the Ph₃GeH to the metal atom. This six coordinate complex contains one terminal hydrido ligand. Compound 15 is formed from 14 and contains two trans-positioned GePh₃ ligands in the six coordinate complex. Compound 16 contains two Ru(CO)₄(GePh₃) fragments joined by an Ru–Ru single bond. Compound 17 contains a triangular cluster of three ruthenium atoms with three bridging hydrido ligands and one terminal GePh₃ ligand on each metal atom. When heated to 125 °C, 14 was converted to the new triruthenium compound Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ-GePh₂)₂, 18. Compound 18 consists of a triangular tri-ruthenium cluster with two GePh₂ ligands bridging two different edges of the cluster and one bridging CO ligand. Ru₃(CO)₁₂ was found to react with Ph₃GeH at 97 °C to yield three products: 15, and two new compounds Ru₃(CO)₉(μ-GePh₂)₃, 19 and Ru₂(CO)₆(μ-GePh₂)₂(GePh₃)₂, 20 were obtained. Compound 19 is similar to 18 having a triangular tri-ruthenium cluster but has three bridging GePh₂ ligands, one on each Ru–Ru bond. Compound 20 contains only two ruthenium atoms joined by a single Ru–Ru bond that has two bridging GePh₂ ligands and a terminal GePh₃ ligand on each metal atom. All compounds were characterized by a combination of IR, ¹H NMR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. This report is dedicated to Professor Dieter Fenske on the occasion of his 65th birthday for his many pioneering contributions to the chemistry of metal chalcogenide cluster complexes.     

Preparation of Pd(PPh<Subscript>2</Subscript>H)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PPh<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> and its Role as a Precursor of a Dinuclear Complex with Bridging Phosphide Ligands

Reaction of PPh₂H with Pd(PPh₃)₄ in a 4:1 molar ratio produced the Pd complex with two diphenylphosphine ligands, Pd(PPh₂H)₂(PPh₃)₂ (1). Complex (1) was characterized by n.m.r. (¹H and ³¹P{¹H}) spectra as well as by elemental analysis. Reaction of (1) with RhCl(PPh₃)₃ yielded a Pd–Rh heterobimetallic complex with bridging phosphide ligands, formulated as [(Ph₃P)₂Pd(μ-PPh₂)₂Rh(PPh₃)₂]Cl (2).     

Synthesis,structure, and NO-donor activity of the paramagnetic complex [Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>(SC<Subscript>3</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(NO)<Subscript>4</Subscript>] as a model of nitrosyl [2FE-2S] proteins

The neutral dinuclear iron nitrosyl complex [Fe₂(SC₃H₅N₂)₂(NO)₄] (1) of the “g = 2.03” family with a ligand analogous to natural mercaptohistidine was synthesized by the metathesis reaction of the thiosulfate ligands in the [Fe₂(S₂O₃)₂(NO)₄]²⁻ anion with imidazolidine-2-thiolate ligands. The electrochemical determination of nitrogen oxide in solution showed that compound 1 has a lower NO-donor ability compared to the iron complexes with 1-methylimidazole-2-thiol and imidazole-2-thiol synthesized earlier. Study of the magnetic properties of polycrystals of 1 demonstrated that the effective magnetic moment at room temperature is ca. 2.45 μ_B and corresponds to a molecule containing a pair of the noninteracting spins S = 1/2. This is evidence that each iron coordination unit in complex 1 contains one unpaired electron, and the iron atom is in the low-spin state. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 28–34, January, 2007.     

Multifunctional iron thiocarboxylate complexes: synthesis,reactivity and structure of CpFe(CO)<Subscript>2</Subscript>SCO-3,5-C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>(COCl)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

A controlled substitution reaction of the chlorine atoms of 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride by the organoiron fragment (CpFe(CO)₂S) has been achieved. The complexes CpFe(CO)₂SCO-3,5-C₆H₃(COCl)₂ (1), 1,3-[CpFe(CO)₂SCO]₂-5-C₆H₃COCl (2) and 1,3,5-[CpFe(CO)₂SCO]₃C₆H₃ (3) were prepared from the reaction of (μ-S _x )[CpFe(CO)₂]₂ (x = 3, 4) with 1,3,5-C₆H₃(COCl)₃ in a 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1 metal to ligand molar ratio. The reactions of (1) with amines, thiols, and carboxylic acids produce the trifunctional mono-iron complexes CpFe(CO)₂SCO-3,5-C₆H₃(COY)₂ [Y = NR₂ (4), SR (5), OCOR (4)]. The X-ray structure determination of (1) is reported.     

Steric distortion of planar NiP<Subscript>2</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript> chromophores: a spectral,cyclic voltammetric and single crystal X-ray structural study

The complexes trans-[Ni(4-MP)₂(NCS)₂]·MeCN (1) and trans-[Ni(3-MP)₂(NCS)₂] (2) (4-MP = tri(4-methylphenyl)phosphine, 3-MP = tri(3-methylphenyl)phosphine) were prepared and characterized by IR, UV–visible, NMR spectra, CV, TGA and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Both the complexes have planar geometry and are diamagnetic. The Ni–P distances in both complexes are relatively short as a result of strong back donation from nickel to phosphorus. The phenyl rings in the 3-MP analogue (2) show increased pitching with reference to the plane formed by the ipso carbons due to increased steric effects. For complex (2), the N–Ni–N and P–Ni–P angles are significantly lower than the almost linear N–Ni–N and N–Ni–P angles observed for both complex (1) and trans-[Ni(PPh₃)₂(NCS)₂]. This observation indicates that the 3-methylphosphine ligand forces complex (2) to distort towards a tetrahedral geometry. IR spectra of both complexes show strong bands around 2,090 cm⁻¹ due to N-coordinated thiocyanate, while the electronic spectra contain d–d transitions around 452 nm. Cyclic voltammograms show that the irreversible one-electron reduction potentials increase in the following order: trans- [Ni(PPh₃)₂(NCS)₂] < trans- [Ni(3-MP)₂(NCS)₂] < trans-[Ni(4-MP)₂(NCS)₂], revealing the electron releasing effect of the methyl groups. The planar complexes exhibit interallogony in coordinating solvents.     

Formation of binuclear pyrazolate-bridged palladium carboxylates in the reactions of [Pd(Hdmpz)<Subscript>4</Subscript>](OOCR<Subscript>2</Subscript>) (R = Me,Bu<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis></Superscript>, Ph) with heterometallic Pd-Co acetate

The reactions of [Pd(Hdmpz)₄](OOCR)₂ (R = Me, Bu ^t , Ph, Hdmpz = 3,5-dimethylpyrazole) with the heterometallic acetate Pd(μ-OOCMe)₄Co(NCMe) gives pyrazolate-bridged dimers Pd₂(μ-dmpz)₂(Hdmpz)₂(OOCR)₂ (R = Me, Bu ^t , Ph), which were characterized by X-ray diffraction.     

Cuboidal oxalate cluster complexes with the Mo<Subscript>3</Subscript>CuQ<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>5+</Superscript> cluster core (Q = S or Se): synthesis,structure, and electrochemical properties

The reactions of the [Mo₃(μ₃-Q)(μ₂-Q)₃(H₂O)₃(C₂O₄)₃]²⁻ complex (Q = S or Se) with CuX salts (X = Cl, Br, I, or SCN) in water produce the cuboidal heterometallic clusters [Mo₃(CuX)(μ₃-Q)₄(H₂O)₃(C₂O₄)₃]²⁻, which were isolated as the potassium and tetraphenylphosphonium salts. Two new compounds, K₂[Mo₃(CuI)(μ₃-S)₄(H₂O)₃(C₂O₄)₃]·6H₂O and (PPh₄)₂[Mo₃(CuBr)(μ₃-S)₄(H₂O)₃(C₂O₄)₃]·7H₂O, were structurally characterized. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. The K₂[Mo₃(CuI)(μ₃-Se)₄(H₂O)₃(C₂O₄)₃] compound was characterized by the ⁷⁷Se NMR spectrum; the (PPh₄)₂[Mo₃(CuI)(μ₃-S)₄(H₂O)₃(C₂O₄)₃], (PPh₄)₂[Mo₃(CuI)(μ₃-Se)₄(H₂O)₃(C₂O₄)₃] and K₂[Mo₃(CuSCN)(μ₃-S)₄(H₂O)₃(C₂O₄)₃]·7H₂O compounds, by electrospray mass spectra. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1639–1644, September, 2007.     

Whitlockite solid solutions in the Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>(VO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>-K<Subscript>3</Subscript>VO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-NdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> system

Phase equilibria in the Ca₃(VO₄)₂-K₃VO₄-NdVO₄ system have been studied. An extensive calcium orthovanadate-based solid solution was found to form with the boundary compositions as follows: Ca₃(VO₄)₂-Ca₉Nd(VO₄)₇-Ca_9.33K_2.33(VO₄)₇-Ca_7.88K_2.63Nd_0.87(VO₄)₇. The unit cell parameters of the whit-lockite vanadates synthesized increase as the potassium and neodymium contents increase. Phase transitions from the low-temperature β phase to the β′ centrosymmetrical structure in Ca_{9.33 − 5z} K_{2.33 + z} Nd_3z (VO₄)₇ vanadates have been studied dilatometrically. The increase in the β ai β′ transition temperature caused by potassium is interpreted as arising from the filling in of vacant cation positions M(4) and M(6).     

Crystal structures of [Hg(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-ethylthiourea)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>2</Subscript>] and [Hg(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-propylthiourea)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]

Two mercury(II) cyanide complexes of N-ethylthiourea (Ettu) and N-propylthiourea (Prtu) ligands, [Hg(Ettu)₂(CN)₂] (1) and [Hg(Prtu)₂(CN)₂] (2), were prepared and their crystal structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. In both structures, the mercury atom is coordinated to two sulfur atoms of thioureas and two cyanide carbon atoms in a pseudo-tetrahedral mode with the bond angles in the range of 90.52(11)–162.2(3)°. The structures are stabilized by N-H—S, N-H—N, and C-H—N intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Theoretical studies on the pentacoordinate silylenoid PhCH<Subscript>2</Subscript>(NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>SiLiF

The structures of pentacoordinate silylenoid PhCH₂(NH₂)CH₃SiLiF were studied by density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. Three equilibrium structures, the three-membered ring (1), the p-complex (2), and the σ-complex (3) structures, were located. Their energies are in the order of 2 > 1 > 3 both in vacuum and in THF. To exploit the stability of PhCH₂(NH₂)CH₃SiLiF, the insertion reactions of 1 and PhCH₂(NH₂)CH₃Si into C–F have been investigated, respectively. The results show that the insertion of PhCH₂(NH₂)CH₃Si is more favorable. To probe the influence of amine-coordination to the stability of PhCH₂(NH₂)CH₃SiLiF, the insertion reaction of PhCH₃CH₃SiLiF was also investigated. The calculations indicate that the insertion of PhCH₃CH₃SiLiF is more favorable than that of 1. So the N atom plays an important role on the stability of silylenoid PhCH₂(NH₂)CH₃SiLiF.     

Reactivity of triangular oxalate cluster complexes [M<Subscript>3</Subscript>Q<Subscript>7</Subscript>(C<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]<Superscript>2−</Superscript> (M = Mo or W; Q = S or Se)

The reactions of the oxalate complexes [M₃Q₇(C₂O₄)₃]²⁻ (M = Mo or W; Q = S or Se) with Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, and Cu^II aqua and ethylenediamine complexes in aqueous and aqueous ethanolic solutions were studied. The previously unknown heterometallic complexes [Mo₃Se₇(C₂O₄)₃Ni(H₂O)₅]·3.5H₂O (1) and K₃{[Cu(en)₂H₂O]([Mo₃S₇(ox)₃]₂Br)}·5.5H₂O (2) were synthesized. In these complexes, the oxalate clusters serve as monodentate ligands. The K(H₂en)₂[W₃S₇(C₂O₄)₃]₂Br·4H₂O salt (3) was isolated from solutions containing Co^II, Ni^II, or Cu^II aqua complexes and ethylenediamine. The reaction of [Mo₃Se₇(C₂O₄)₃]²⁻ with HBr produced the bromide complex [Mo₃Se₇Br₆]²⁻, which was isolated as (Bu₄N)₂[Mo₃Se₇Br₆] (4). Complexes 1–3 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, and elemental analysis. The formation of 4 was detected by electrospray mass spectrometry. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1645–1649, September, 2007.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of [Ni(Bptc)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(Bimb)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]

In the compound [Ni(Bptc)₂(Bimb)₂(H₂O)₂] (I), where H₄Bptc is 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid; Bimb is 4,4′-bis(1-imidazolyl)biphenyl), Ni(II) has a distorted octahedral coordination geometry, which was bonded with two N atoms from two Bimb ligands, two O atoms from two H₂Bptc²⁻ ligands and two water O atoms. The crystal structure of compound I is stabilized by the π-π-stacking and hydrogen bonds interaction.     

Photochemical substitution of benzene in the iron cyclohexadienyl complex [(η<Superscript>5</Superscript>-C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>7</Subscript>)Fe(η-C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>6</Subscript>)]<Superscript>+</Superscript>

The visible light irradiation of the [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(η-C₆H₆)]⁺ cation (1) in acetonitrile resulted in the substitution of the benzene ligand to form the labile acetonitrile species [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(MeCN)₃]⁺ (2). The reaction of 1 with Bu^tNC in MeCN produced the stable isonitrile complex [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(Bu^tNC)₃]⁺ (3). The photochemical reaction of cation 1 with pentaphosphaferrocene Cp*Fe(η-cyclo-P₅) afforded the triple-decker cation with the bridging pentaphospholyl ligand, [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(μ-η:η-cyclo-P₅)FeCp*]⁺ (4). The latter complex was also synthesized by the reaction of cation 2 with Cp*Fe(η-cyclo-P₅). The structure of the complex [3]PF₆ was established by X-ray diffraction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2088–2091, November, 2007.     

The Reactions of Two New Alkoxy-silyl Functionalized Alkynes with M<Subscript>3</Subscript>(CO)<Subscript>12</Subscript> {M = Fe,Ru} and Co<Subscript>2</Subscript>(CO)<Subscript>8</Subscript>. Spectroscopic Identification of the Products

The new alkoxysilyl-functionalized alkynes [HC≡CCH₂N(H)C(=O)N(H)(CH₂)₃Si(OEt)₃] and [HC≡C(C₆H₄)–N(H)C(=O)N(H)(CH₂)₃Si(OEt)₃] have been synthesized using literature methods. These have been reacted with Fe₃(CO)₁₂, Ru₃(CO)₁₂ and Co₂(CO)₈. With the iron carbonyl only decomposition was observed: with Ru₃(CO)₁₂ splitting of the alkynes into their parent components and formation of the complexes (μ-H)Ru₃(CO)₉[HC=N(CH₂)₃Si(OEt)₃], (μ-H)Ru₃(CO)₉[C–C(C₆H₄)NH₂] and (μ-H)₂Ru₃(CO)₉[HC–CCH₃] occurred. Finally, with Co₂(CO)₈ formation of complexes Co₂(CO)₆(HC₂R) R=(C₆H₄)NH₂, CH₂NH(CO)NH(CH₂)₃Si(OEt)₃, (C₆H₄)NH(CO)NH(CH₂)₃Si(OEt)₃ containing the intact alkynes could be obtained.     

Structure and properties of H<Subscript>8</Subscript>(PW<Subscript>11</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>39</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>O heteropoly acid

Heteropoly acid (HPA) H₈(PW₁₁TiO₃₉)₂O·xH₂O (I) is synthesized by three different ways and studied by chemical analysis, potentiometric titration, mass-spectrometry, IR, ³¹P, ¹⁸³W, and ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and transmission electron microscopy. Anion I consists of two subparticles of the Keggin structure bridged by Ti-O-Ti. The dimeric anion exists in HPA aqueous solutions at [I] > 0.02 M. At pH > 0.6 it splits to a [PW₁₁TiO₄₀]⁵⁻ monomer stable up to pH ∼ 6. When heated (150–400)°C, I splits into H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ and, apparently, H₃PW₁₀Ti₂O₃₈ without phase separation. Thermolysis products are soluble and when dissolved in water turn again into I. Complete decomposition of I to oxides occurs at ∼450°C.     

Oxonitrates VO(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> and MoO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> and nitronium and nitrosonium nitratometallates as nitrating agents

Dissolution of vanadium in anhydrous HNO₃ followed by exposure of the solution in a dessicator over P₂O₅ gave liquid vanadyl trinitrate (I). The X-ray diffraction analysis of I was carried out for a single crystal grown on cooling the liquid in a sealed capillary. The structure is composed of VO(NO)₃ molecules in which the V atom has an unusually high C.N. 7; it coordinates the terminal O atom and three bidentate nitrate groups to form a distorted pentagonal bipyramid as the coordination polyhedron with the terminal O atom occupying one axial vertex. Using the GAMESS program package, ab initio calculation of the structure of VO (NO₃)₃ in the liquid phase was carried out. It was shown that in all three physical states, vanadyl trinitrate retains its molecular structure almost invariable. Toluene and naphthalene nitration using I and (NO₂)[Fe(NO₃)₄], NO[Cu(NO₃)₃], (NO)_3/4(NO₂)_1/4[Zr(NO₃)₅], and MoO₂(NO₃)₂ proceeds at high rates at low temperatures to give an unusually high para-nitrotoluene percentage in the products as compared with the ortho-isomer. The activity of the studied compounds in the nitration of naphthalene decreases in the series VO(NO₃)₃ > (NO)_3/4(NO₂)_1/4[Zr(NO₃)₅] > MoO₂(NO₃)₂.