Octahapto cyclooctatetraene rings and metal-metal multiple bonds in binuclear niobium carbonyl chemistry

Theoretical studies on (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) predict structures mainly with octahapto and tetrahapto C₈H₈ rings. In all cases, the lowest energy singlet spin state structures lie below the corresponding lowest energy triplet spin state structures. Thus the lowest energy (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)₄ structure has two η⁸-C₈H₈ rings and an unbridged Nb-Nb single bond of length ∼3.15 Å. The lowest energy (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)₂ structure has two η⁸-C₈H₈ rings but a doubly bridged NbNb triple bond of length ∼2.64 Å. The lowest energy structure of (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)₃ also has a formal NbNb triple bond of similar length (2.66 Å) but with only one of the rings fully coordinated as an octahapto η⁸-C₈H₈ ligand. The other C₈H₈ ring in this tricarbonyl has “slipped” to form a hexahapto η⁶-C₈H₈ ligand. The lowest energy structure of the monocarbonyl (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO) again has two octahapto η⁸-C₈H₈ rings and an extremely short NbNb distance of 2.45 Å, suggesting a formal quadruple bond. The lowest energy structures for the carbonyl-richer species (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5) have one η⁸-C₈H₈ and one η⁴-C₈H₈ ring (n = 5) and two η⁴-C₈H₈ rings (n = 6). The qualitatively assigned Nb-Nb bond orders are consistent with the Wiberg bond indices obtained from the Weinhold natural bond orbital analysis. Comparison of the (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) derivatives with the isovalent (C₇H₇)₂Mo₂(CO)_n is made.