Synthesis and molecular geometry of unique lithium isopropoxide assisted tantalum isopropoxide cluster containing bidentate N,O-ketiminate ligands

Abstract A unique cluster of lithium isopropoxide assisted tantalum isopropoxide derivative incorporating bidentate ketiminate ligand is reported and structurally characterized. Reaction between Li(OCMeCHCMeNAr) and TaCl5 in toluene at room temperature generates compound 1, (OCMeCHCMeNAr)TaCl4, in relatively high yield. Further reacting of 1 with excess amount of LiiOPr in diethylether affords the tantalum-lithium bimetallic cluster {[Li(OCMeCHCMeNAr)]Ta(OiPr)5(LiOiPr)(LiCl)}2 (2). The molecular geometry of 2 reveals as an edge-sharing bis(open-cube) that it consists two Li-Cl edge-sharing bis(open-cube)TaLi3O5Cl units in its core structure.