Synthesis, properties and structures of eight-coordinate zirconium(IV) and hafnium(IV) halide complexes with phosphorus and arsenic ligands

Eight-coordinate MX(4)(L-L)(2)] (M = Zr or Hf; X = Cl or Br; L-L = o-C(6)H(4)(PMe(2))(2) or o-C(6)H(4)(AsMe(2))(2)) were made by displacement of Me(2)S from MX(4)(Me(2)S)(2)] by three equivalents of L-L in CH(2)Cl(2) solution, or from MX(4) and L-L in anhydrous thf solution. The MI(4)(L-L)(2)] were made directly from reaction of MI(4) with the ligand in CH(2)Cl(2) solution. The very moisture-sensitive complexes were characterised by IR, UV/Vis, and (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy and microanalysis. Crystal structures of ZrCl(4)o-C(6)H(4)(AsMe(2))(2)](2)], ZrBr(4)-C(6)H(4)(PMe(2))(2)](2)], ZrI(4)o-C(6)H(4)(AsMe(2))(2)](2)] and HfI(4)o-C(6)H(4)(AsMe(2))(2)](2)] all show distorted dodecahedral structures. Surprisingly, unlike the corresponding Ti(iv) systems, only the eight-coordinate complex was found in each system. In contrast, the ligand o-C(6)H(4)(PPh(2))(2) forms only six-coordinate complexes MX(4)-C(6)H(4)(PPh(2))(2)]] which were fully characterised spectroscopically and analytically. Surprisingly the tripodal triarsine, MeC(CH(2)AsMe(2))(3), also produces eight-coordinate MX(4)MeC(CH(2)AsMe(2))(3)](2)] in which the triarsines bind as bidentates in a distorted dodecahedral structure. There is no evidence for seven-coordination as found in some thioether systems.