Tetravalent niobium alkyls and enolate stabilized by anionic organic amides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/s0020-1693(98)00059-0

The lithium amide [3,5-Me₂PhN(Ad)]Li · Et₂O reacts with NbCl₄(THF)₂ to give [3,5-Me₂PhN(Ad)]₃NbCl (1). Reactions of 1 with PhLi and MeLi produced the corresponding alkyl derivatives [3,5-Me₂PhN(Ad)]₃NbR (R=Ph (2a), Me (2b)). Attempts to prepare a neophyl niobium derivative led instead to the formation of the corresponding enolate [3,5-Me₂PhN(Ad)]₃Nb (OCH=CH₂) (3), arising from the cleavage of THF.