New mode of coordination for the dinitrogen ligand: formation, bonding, and reactivity of a tantalum complex with a bridging N(2) unit that is both side-on and end-on.

The reaction of a mixture of 1 equiv of PhPH(2) and 2 equiv of PhNHSiMe(2)CH(2)Cl with 4 equiv of Bu(n)Li followed by the addition of THF generates the lithiated ligand precursor [NPN]Li(2).(THF)(2) (where [NPN] = PhP(CH(2)SiMe(2)NPh)(2)). The reaction of [NPN]Li(2).(THF)(2) with TaMe(3)Cl(2) produces [NPN]TaMe(3), which reacts under H(2) to yield the diamagnetic dinuclear Ta(IV) tetrahydride ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-H)(4). This hydride reacts with N(2) with the loss of H(2) to produce ([NPN]Ta(mu-H))(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N(2)), which was characterized both in solution and in the solid state, and contains strongly activated N(2) bound in the unprecedented side-on end-on dinuclear bonding mode. A density functional theory calculation on the model complex [(H(3)P)(H(2)N)(2)Ta(mu-H)](2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N(2)) provides insight into the molecular orbital interactions involved in the side-on end-on bonding mode of dinitrogen. The reaction of ([NPN]Ta(mu-H))(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N(2)) with propene generates the end-on bound dinitrogen complex ([NPN]Ta(CH(2)CH(2)CH(3)))(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(1)-N(2)), and the reaction of [NPN]Li(2).(THF)(2) with NbCl(3)(DME) generates the end-on bound dinitrogen complex ([NPN]NbCl)(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(1)-N(2)). These two end-on bound dinitrogen complexes provide evidence that the bridging hydride ligands are responsible for the unusual bonding mode of dinitrogen in ([NPN]Ta(mu-H))(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N(2)). The dinitrogen moiety in the side-on end-on mode is amenable to functionalization; the reaction of ([NPN]Ta(mu-H))(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N(2)) with PhCH(2)Br results in C-N bond formation to yield [NPN]Ta(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N(2)CH(2)Ph)(mu-H)(2)TaBr[NPN]. Nitrogen-15 NMR spectral data are provided for all the tantalum-dinitrogen complexes and derivatives described.