Synthesis and structure of a (NacNac)rhodium terminal dinitrogen complex

Article abstract of DOI:10.1139/v05-012

Reaction of the ligand salt CH[C(Me)(N-i-Pr₂C₆H ₃)]₂Li(Et₂O) with [Rh(COE)(μ-Cl)] ₂ proceeds to give the brown crystalline product CH[C(Me)(N-i-Pr ₂C₆H₃)]₂Rh(N₂)(COE) (1) in 38% yield. X-ray crystallographic study of 1 confirmed the formulation and revealed that the terminally bound dinitrogen molecule exhibits a Rh-N distance of 1.943(4) A and an N-N distance of 1.091(6) A. Comparison to other Rh-N₂ complexes shows that the N-N distances reflect a complex admixture of the trans influence and the net electron density at the metal center.