Hexa(tert-butoxy)dimolybdenum(III)

Hexa(tert-butoxy)dimolybdenum(III) is a coordination complex of molybdenum(III). It is one of the homoleptic alkoxides of molybdenum. An orange, air-sensitive solid, the complex has attracted academic attention as the precursor to many organomolybdenum derivatives. It an example of a charge-neutral complex featuring a molybdenum to molybdenum triple bond (Mo≡Mo), arising from the coupling of a pair of d³ metal centers. It can be prepared by a salt metathesis reaction from the THF complex of molybdenum trichloride and lithium tert-butoxide:^[1]

2 MoCl₃(thf)₃ + 6 LiOBu-t → Mo₂(OBu-t)₆ + 6 LiCl + 6 thf

Hexa(tert-butoxy)dimolybdenum(III)

Identifiers
CAS Number	51956-21-9
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	129557724
PubChem CID	163189339
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID001336555
InChI InChI=1S/6C4H9O.2Mo/c6*1-4(2,3)5;;/h6*1-3H3;;/q6*-1;2*+3 Key: ZOGMSHNHMHVRRN-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES CC(C)(C)O[Mo](#[Mo](OC(C)(C)C)(OC(C)(C)C)OC(C)(C)C)(OC(C)(C)C)OC(C)(C)C
Properties
Chemical formula	C24H54Mo2O6
Molar mass	630.59 g·mol−1
Appearance	orange solid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

The complex and its ditungsten (W₂) analogue adopt an ethane-like geometry. The metal to metal bond distance is 222 pm in the related complex Mo₂(OCH₂CMe₃)₆.^[2]

See also

• Hexa(tert-butoxy)ditungsten(III)