On the unprecedented level of dinitrogen activation in the calix[4]arene complex of Nb(III)

The calix4]arene niobium(III) complex (L]Nb-N=N-NbL] where L] = p-tert-butylcalix4]arene), reported to bind N(2) in a μ(2)-linear dimeric capacity and to activate the N(2) triple bond to 1.39 ?, corresponding to the longest N(2) bond known in the end-on coordination mode, was subjected to a computational investigation involving both density functional and wavefunction based methods to establish the basis for the unprecedented level of activation. Replacement of the calix4]arene ligand with hydroxide or methoxide ligands reveals that the organic backbone structure of the calix4]arene ligand exerts negligible electronic influence over the metal centre, serving only to geometrically constrain the coordinating phenoxide groups. A fragment bonding analysis shows that metal-to-dinitrogen π* backbonding is the principal Nb-N interaction, providing a strong electronic basis for analogy with other well-characterised three- and four-coordinate complexes which bind N(2) end-on. While the calculated structure of the metallacalix4]arene unit is reproduced with high accuracy, as is also the Nb-Nb separation, the calculated equilibrium geometry of the complex under a variety of conditions consistently indicates against a 1.39 ? activation of the N(2) bond. Instead, the calculated N-N distances fall within the range 1.26-1.30 ?, a result concordant with closely related three- and four-coordinate μ(2)-N(2) complexes as well as predictions derived from trends in N-N stretching frequency for a number of crystallographically characterized linear N(2) activators. A number of potential causes for this bond length discrepancy are explored.