Molybdenum Tricarbonyl Complexes Supported by Linear PNP Ligands: Influence of P- and N-Substituents on Relative Stability,Stereoisomerism and on the Activation of Small Molecules

Series of linear tridentate PN^PhP^R-ligands (R=Me, Et, Pln, Ph, Cyp, ⁱPr, Cy, ^tBu) and molybdenum tricarbonyl complexes [Mo(CO)₃PN^PhP^R] (R=Ph, Et, Cyp, ⁱPr, Cy,) were synthesized and characterized using NMR-, IR-, and Raman spectroscopy as well as X-ray crystallography. The influence of the different phosphine donor groups of the PN^PhP^R ligands on the bonding and activation of CO ligands is investigated. Importantly, all complexes are found to adopt a fac geometry, both in solution and in the solid state. This is in contrast to analogous complexes supported by PN^HP ligands. DFT calculations reveal that the phenyl ring at the central amine function is the cause of the preferred geometry, hindering isomerization to a mer geometry.