Tale of Three Molecular Nitrides: Mononuclear Vanadium (V) and (IV) Nitrides As Well As a Mixed-Valence Trivanadium Nitride Having a V3N4 Double-Diamond Core

Transmetallation of [VCl3(THF)3] and [TlTptBu,Me] afforded [(TptBu,Me)­VCl2] (1, TptBu,Me = hydro-tris­(3-tert-butyl-5-methylpyrazol-1-yl)­borate), which was reduced with KC8 to form a C3v symmetric VII complex, [(TptBu,Me)­VCl] (2). Complex 1 has a high-spin (S = 1) ground state and displays rhombic high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) spectra, while complex 2 has an S = 3/2 4A2 ground state observable by conventional EPR spectroscopy. Complex 1 reacts with NaN3 to form the VV nitride-azide complex [(TptBu,Me)­VN­(N3)] (3). A likely VIII azide intermediate en route to 3, [(TptBu,Me)­VCl­(N3)] (4), was isolated by reacting 1 with N3SiMe3. Complex 4 is thermally stable but reacts with NaN3 to form 3, implying a bis-azide intermediate, [(TptBu,Me)­V­(N3)2] (A), leading to 3. Reduction of 3 with KC8 furnishes a trinuclear and mixed-valent nitride, [{(TptBu,Me)­V}2(μ4-VN4)] (5), conforming to a Robin–Day class I description. Complex 5 features a central vanadium ion supported only by bridging nitride ligands. Contrary to 1, complex 2 reacts with NaN3 to produce an azide-bridged dimer, [{(TptBu,Me)­V}2(1,3-μ2-N3)2] (6), with two antiferromagnetically coupled high-spin VII ions. Complex 5 could be independently produced along with [(κ2-TptBu,Me)2V] upon photolysis of 6 in arene solvents. The putative {VIVN} intermediate, [(TptBu,Me)­VN] (B), was intercepted by photolyzing 6 in a coordinating solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), yielding [(TptBu,Me)­VN­(THF)] (B-THF). In arene solvents, B-THF expels THF to afford 5 and [(κ2-TptBu,Me)2V]. A more stable adduct (B-OPPh3) was prepared by reacting B-THF with OPPh3. These adducts of B are the first neutral and mononuclear VIV nitride complexes to be isolated.