Divalent molybdenum complexes of the dipyrrolide ligand system. Isolation of a Mo2 unit with a 45 degree twist angle.

The preparation of divalent Mo complexes of dipyrrolide dianions was carried out by reacting Mo(2)(acetate)(4) with the dipotassium salts of Ph(2)C(2-C(4)H(3)NH)(2) and 2-[1,1-bis(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)ethyl]pyridine. The two reactions respectively afforded the diamagnetic [[Ph(2)C(C(4)H(3)N)(2)](2)Mo(2)(OAc)(2)[K(THF)(3)][K(THF)]].THF (1) and [[(2-C(5)H(4) N)(CH(3))C(2-C(4)H(3)N)(2)]Mo(OAc)[K(THF)]](2).THF (2). Both compounds retained two acetate units in the dimetallic structure. Conversely, the reaction of Me(8)Mo(2)Li(4)(THF)(4) with Et(2)C(2-C(4)H(3)NH)(2) afforded the paramagnetic dimer [[Et(2)C(C(4)H(3)N)(2)](4)Mo(2)Li(2)][Li(THF)(4)](2).0.5THF (3). The paramagnetism is most likely caused by the 45 degree rotation of the two Mo(dipyrrolide) units with respect to each other and which, in turn, is caused by the presence of two lithium cations in the molecular structure.