Synthesis, properties and structures of NbOF3 complexes and comparisons with NbOCl3 analogues

The first series of complexes of niobium(v) oxide trifluoride, [NbOF3(OPR3)2] (R = Me or Ph), [NbOF3(dppmO2)] (dppmO2 = Ph2P(O)CH2P(O)Ph2), [NbOF3(dmso)2], [NbOF3(tmeda)] (tmeda = Me2N(CH2)2NMe2) and [NbOF3(diimine)] (diimine = 2,2'-bipy, 1,10-phen) have been prepared, either by reaction of the corresponding complexes of NbF5 and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) in CH2Cl2-MeCN solution, or directly from NbF5, ligand and HMDSO. They were characterised by IR, (1)H, (31)P{(1)H} and (19)F{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystal structures are reported for [NbOF3(OPR3)2] (R = Me or Ph) and [NbOF3(dppmO2)]. Complexes of NbOCl3, [NbOCl3(OPPh3)2], [NbOCl3(dppmO2)], [NbOCl3(dppeO2)] (dppeO2 = Ph2P(O)(CH2)2P(O)Ph2), [NbOCl3(tmeda)] and [NbOCl3(diimine)] were made from NbCl5 and HMDSO in MeCN (which forms [NbOCl3(MeCN)2] in situ), followed by addition of the neutral ligand. Their properties are compared with the oxide fluoride analogues. X-ray structures are reported for [NbOCl3(dppmO2)], [NbOCl3(dppeO2)], [NbOCl3(tmeda)] and [NbOCl3(2,2'-bipy)]. The synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of [MF5L] (M = Nb or Ta; L = OPR3, OAsPh3) and [MF4(diimine)2][MF6] are also described, and the key properties of the four series of complexes compared.