Aryl−Oxygen Bond Cleavage by a Trihydride-Bridging Ditantalum Complex

We have described the synthesis of the cyclometalated trihydride ditantalum(V) complexes supported by the aryloxide tridentate ligand. According to variable-temperature NMR studies, these dimers could provide a masked form of Ta(IV)−Ta(IV) and/or Ta(III)−Ta(III). In addition, these complexes were found to undergo hydrodeoxygenation of the aryloxide ligand.