Abstract

A simple route to the synthesis of two homo-bimetallic molybdenum carbonyl complexes [Mo2(CO)6(HL)2(dppm] (1) and [Mo2(CO)4(HL)2(dppb)] (2) (HL = (E)-2-((2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)phenol; dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane) have been developed. The two compounds were obtained pure by thermal decarbonylation of Mo(CO)6 using a Schiff base ligand previously prepared by condensation reaction of salicylaldehyde and 2-aminophenol, in the presence of either dppm or dppb. Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized using elemental analysis, IR and NMR (1H, 13C and 31P) spectroscopy. Elemental analysis and spectroscopic data revealed bimetallic complexes with three and two carbonyl remaining in the structure of complex 1 and 2 respectively with diphosphines acting as bridge between the two metals.