Monomeric oxovanadium(IV) compounds of the general formula cis-[V(IV)(=O)(X)(L(NN))(2)](+/0) [X = OH(-), Cl(-), SO(4)(2)(-) and L(NN) = 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) or 4,4'-disubstituted bipy].

Reaction of [V(IV)OCl(2)(THF)(2)] in aqueous solution with 2 equiv of AgBF(4) or AgSbF(6) and then with 2 equiv of 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-dtbipy), or 4,4'-di-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-dmbipy) affords compounds of the general formula cis-[V(IV)O(OH)(L(NN))(2)]Y [where L(NN) = bipy, Y = BF(4)(-) (1), L(NN) = 4,4'-dtbipy, Y = BF(4)(-) (2.1.2H(2)O), L(NN) = 4,4'-dmbipy, Y = BF(4)(-) (3.2H(2)O), and L(NN) = 4,4'-dtbipy, Y = SbF(6)(-) (4)]. Sequential addition of 1 equiv of Ba(ClO(4))(2) and then of 2 equiv of bipy to an aqueous solution containing 1 equiv of V(IV)OSO(4).5H(2)O yields cis-[V(IV)O(OH)(bipy)(2)]ClO(4) (5). The monomeric compounds 1-5 contain the cis-[V(IV)O(OH)](+) structural unit. Reaction of 1 equiv of V(IV)OSO(4).5H(2)O in water and of 1 equiv of [V(IV)OCl(2)(THF)(2)] in ethanol with 2 equiv of bipy gives the compounds cis-[V(IV)O(OSO(3))(bipy)(2)].CH(3)OH.1.5H(2)O (6.CH(3)OH.1.5H(2)O) and cis-[V(IV)OCl(bipy)(2)]Cl (7), respectively, while reaction of 1 equiv of [V(IV)OCl(2)(THF)(2)] in CH(2)Cl(2) with 2 equiv of 4,4'-dtbipy gives the compound cis-[V(IV)OCl(4,4'-dtbipy)(2)]Cl.0.5CH(2)Cl(2) (8.0.5CH(2)Cl(2)). Compounds cis-[V(IV)O(BF(4))(4,4'-dtbipy)(2)]BF(4) (9), cis-[V(IV)O(BF(4))(4,4'-dmbipy)(2)]BF(4) (10), and cis-[V(IV)O(SbF(6))(4,4'-dtbipy)(2)]SbF(6) (11) were synthesized by sequential addition of 2 equiv of 4,4'-dtbipy or 4,4'-dmbipy and 2 equiv of AgBF(4) or AgSbF(6) to a dichloromethane solution containing 1 equiv of [V(IV)OCl(2)(THF)(2)]. The crystal structures of 2.1.2H(2)O, 6.CH(3)OH.1.5H(2)O, and 8.0.5CH(2)Cl(2) were demonstrated by X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data are as follows: Compound 2.1.2H(2)O crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with (at 298 K) a = 21.62(1) A, b = 13.33(1) A, c = 27.25(2) A, V = 7851(2) A(3), Z = 8. Compound 6.CH(3)OH.1.5H(2)O crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/a with (at 298 K) a = 12.581(4) A, b = 14.204(5) A, c = 14.613(6) A, beta = 114.88(1) degrees, V = 2369(1), Z = 4. Compound 8.0.5CH(2)Cl(2) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pca2(1) with (at 298 K) a = 23.072(2) A, b = 24.176(2) A, c = 13.676(1) A, V = 7628(2) A(3), Z = 8 with two crystallographically independent molecules per asymmetric unit. In addition to the synthesis and crystallographic studies, we report the optical, infrared, magnetic, conductivity, and CW EPR properties of these oxovanadium(IV) compounds as well as theoretical studies on [V(IV)O(bipy)(2)](2+) and [V(IV)OX(bipy)(2)](+/0) species (X = OH(-), SO(4)(2)(-), Cl(-)).