Hydrosilylation of a dinuclear tantalum dinitrogen complex: cleavage of N2 and functionalization of both nitrogen atoms.

Hydrosilylation of the ditantalum dinitrogen complex ([NPN]Ta)2(mu-H)2(mu-eta1:eta2-N2) proceeds via an addition reaction to produce ([NPN]TaH)(mu-H)2(mu-eta1:eta2-N-NSiH2Bu)(Ta[NPN]), which contains a new N-Si bond and a terminal tantalum hydride; this species has been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. This complex undergoes reductive elimination of H2 followed by N-N bond cleavage to generate a new intermediate with the formula ([NPN]TaH)(mu-N)(mu-NSiH2Bu)(Ta[NPN]); confirmation of N-N bond cleavage is evident from the 15N-labeled isotopomer that displays an absence of 15N-15N scalar coupling in the 15N NMR spectrum. In the presence of additional silane, a second hydrosilylation and reductive elimination results to give ([NPN]Ta)2(mu-NSiH2Bu)2, a species in which each dinitrogen-derived N atom has been converted to a bridging silylimide ligand. This latter complex displays C2h symmetry both in solution and in the solid state.