Synthesis,molecular structures and PMR spectra of heteronuclear niobocene derivatives containing a niobium-tin bond

Treatment of niobocene carbonylhydride, Cp₂Nb(CO)H (I), with Ph_nSnCl_4?n and Et₂SnCl₂ in THF in the presence of Et₃N leads to the respective heteronuclear complexes Cp₂Nb(CO)SnR_nCl_3?n (R = Ph, n = 3 ÷ 1 (II–IV), R = Et, n = 2 (V)). Treatment of II with HCl in ether gives Cp₂Nb(CO)SnCl₃ (VI). Complex VI and its analog (MeC₅H₄)₂Nb(CO)SnCl₃ (VIII) were prepared by an alternative synthesis using direct reaction of I or (MeC₅H₄)₂Nb(CO)H with an equimolar quantity of SnCl₄ in THF in the presence of Et₃N. Complex VI is also generated by insertion of SnCl₂ into the NbCl bond in Cp₂Nb(CO)Cl (VII). X-Ray analysis of complexes II and VIII was performed: for II, space group P2₁/n, a = 10.1021(21), b = 17.4633(32), c= 14.2473(29) Å, β = 95.578(16)°, Z = 4; for VIII, space group. P2₁/n, a= 8.9369(15), b = 13.3589(12), c = 13.9292(20) Å, β = 99.490(14)°, Z = 4. The NbSn bond in VIII (2.764(9) Å) is shorter than that in II (2.825(2) Å). In both cases the NbSn bond is significantly shorter than the sum of Nb and Sn covalent radii (1.66 + 1.40 = 3.06 Å). It is probably partly multiple in character owing to an additional interaction of the lone electron pair of the Nb^III ion (d² configuration) with the antibonding Sn orbitals. The PMR spectra of II–VI exhibit two satellites of the singlet of C₅H₅ protons because of HSn¹¹⁷ and HSn¹¹⁹ spin-spin coupling (SSC). The SSC constant correlates with the number of electronegative chlorine atoms on the Sn atom.