Reactions of [(Me3SiNCH2CH2)(3)N]WH with dihydrogen, olefins, acetylenes, carbon monoxide, n-butylisocyanide and azobenzene

Dihydrogen reacts slowly with [N3N]WH ([N3N](3-) = [(Me3SiNCH2CH2)(3)N](3-)) in benzene at 22 degrees C to form white, crystalline, diamagnetic [N3N]WH3 quantitatively. [N3N]WH in C6D6 reacts with ethylene to produce [N3N]W=CMe quantitatively, while the reaction between [N3N]WH and propylene at 45 degrees C for 24 h produces a mixture of [N3N]W=CCH2CH3 and [N3N]WH3. Addition of 1 equiv. of diphenylacetylene to [N3N]WH gives the diamagnetic 'tungstacyclopropene' complex, [N3N]W(CPhCHPh). Heating a mixture of [N3N]WH and 1 equiv. of azobenzene to 75 degrees C produces the green azobenzene adduct, [N3N]W(H)(PhNNPh), while [N3N]WH reacts with 1 equiv. of carbon monoxide at 0 degrees C to produce [N3N]W(H)(CO). Upon addition of trimethylamine to a mixture of [N3N]W(H)(CO) and Me3SiI, colorless [N3N]W=COTMS is formed. [N3N]WH reacts with 1 equiv. of n-butylisocyanide at -20 degrees to yield diamagnetic [N3N]W(H)(BuNC). The structures of [N3N]WH3, [N3N]W(PhCCHPh), [N3N]W(H)(PhNNPh) and [N3N]W(H)(CO) have been determined via X-ray crystallography. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.