Preparation and characterization of M(CH3)5 (M = Nb or Ta) and Ta(CH2C6H5)5 and evidence for decomposition by α-hydrogen atom abstraction

The preparations of Nb(CH₃)₅, Ta(CH₃)₅, and Ta(CH₂C₆H₅)₅ are reported in detail. The M(CH₃)₅ complexes decompose autocatalytically to give 3.4 ± 0.1 mol of methane and a non-hyclrolyzable residue with approximate composition MC_1–5H while Ta(CH₂C₆H₅)₅ decomposes in a non-autocatalytic manner to give ca. 2.6 mol of toluene per Ta. Decomposition of Nb(CD₃)₅ gave 96% CD₄ in diethyl ether while the toluene produced on decomposition of Ta(CD₂C₆H₅)₅ was at least 90%-d₃. An observed kinetic deuterium isotope effect of 2–3 in each case is evidence that an α-CH(D) bond is broken in a slow step of the decomposition. It is postulated that M(CH₃)₅ and Ta(CH₂C₆H₅)₅ decompose primarily by α-hydrogen atom abstraction though almost certainly in a complex, possibly intermolecular fashion in the case of M(CH₃)₅. In neither case (R = CH₃ or CH₂C₆H₅) was there evidence for significant homolytic cleavage of the metalcarbon bond to give free alkyl radicals.