Multiply Bonded Metal(II) Acetate (Rhodium, Ruthenium, and Molybdenum) Complexes with the trans-1,2-Bis(N‑methylimidazol-2-yl)ethylene Ligand

The synthesis and structural characterization of new coordination polymers with the N,N-donor ligand trans-1,2-bis­(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)­ethylene (trans-bie) are reported. It was found that the acetate-bridged paddlewheel metal­(II) complexes [M2(O2CCH3)4(trans-bie)]n with M = Rh, Ru, Mo, and Cr are linked by the trans-bie ligand to give a one-dimensional alternating chain. The metal–metal multiple bonds were analyzed with density functional theory and CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations (bond orders: Rh, 0.8; Ru, 1.7; Mo, 3.3).