Seven-coordinate [ReVON4X2]+ complexes (X = O and Cl).

The oxorhenium(V) complexes with ligands containing N4 (H2pmen) and N4O2 (H2bbpen, H2Clbbpen, and H2bped) donor atom sets have been synthesized. X-ray crystallographic analyses of the [ReO(H2pmen)Cl2]+, [ReO(bbpen)]+, and [ReO(bped)]+ complexes showed that all three cations share a rare seven-coordinate structure with a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry, which represents a novel and potentially general structural motif in ReV = O complexes. 1H NMR spectroscopy shows that the structures of the complexes are retained in the solution.