Oxygen abstraction from tetrahydrofuran by molybdenum-iodide complexes. X-ray molecular structure of [Mo2(μ-O)(μ-I)(μ-O2CCH3)I2(THF)4][MoOI4(THF)] (THF = tetrahydrofuran)

The interaction between Mo₂(O₂CCH₃)₄, Me₃SiI and I₂ in THF resulted in oxygen abstraction from the solvent and formation of Mo₂(μ-O)(μ-I)(μ-O₂CCH₃) I₂(THF)₄]⁺MoOI₄(THF)]^? and I---(CH₂)₄---I. The molybdenum complex has been characterized by X-ray diffractometry. Crystal data: triclinic, space group P , a = 13.827(3) Å; b = 15.803(7) Å; c = 9.950(3) Å; = 93.34(4)°; β = 102.40(2)°; γ = 90.09(2)°; V = 2120(2) Å₃; Z = 2; d_calc = 2.559 g cm^?3; R = 0.0476 (R_w = 0.0613) for 370 parameters and 3938 data with F₀²> 3σ(F₀²). The metal-metal distance in the cation is 2.527(2) Å and indicates a strong interaction. The magnetic behavior is consistent with the assignment of one unpaired electron to the Mo₂⁷⁺ core of the cation and one to the d¹ Mo(V) center of the anion. The interaction between Mo(CO)₆ and I₂ in THF also results in the formation of 1,4-diiodobutane.