Syntheses of heteronuclear molybdenum/bismuth alkoxides stabilized by organic ligands

Reaction of [((CH3)C3H4)Mo(CO)(2)(CH3CN)(2)Cl], 2, with [Bi(OEt)(3)](x) provides the heterotetranuclear complex [((CH3)C3H4)Mo(CO)(2)(mu-OEt)(3)Bi(mu-OEt)(2)Bi(mu-OEt)(3)Mo(CO)(2)((CH3)C3H4)], 3, in good yields. If 2 is reacted with [Bi(OCH2CH2OCH3)(3)](2), a dinuclear chloro alkoxide [((CH3)C3H4)Mo(CO)(2)(mu-kappa O,2 kappa O'-OCH2CH2OCH3)(2)(mu-Cl)BiCl], 4, is obtained, while pretreatment of 2 with AgBF4 and subsequent reaction with [Bi(OCH2CH2OCH3)(3)](2) leads to the chloride-free complex [((CH3)C3H4)Mo(CO)(2)(mu-kappa O'-OCH2CH2OCH3)(3)Bi(thf)][BF4], 6, with a Bi center surrounded by seven oxygen donors. All compounds have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis, and their crystal structures were determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 3, 4, and 6 belong to the few compounds known (there is only one other precedent) where Mo and Ri centers are bridged by oxygen-containing ligands and can therefore be considered as cornerstones on the way to the synthesis of yet unknown molecular compounds with Mo-O-Bi functions resembling those occurring on the surface of nMoO(3)-Bi2O3 catalysts.