Crystal structure of a methyl benzoate quadruple-bonded dimolybdenum complex.

Quadruple-bond dimolybdenum complexes provide invaluable insight into the two-electron bond, with structural chemistry providing a foundation for examination of bond properties. The synthesis and solid-state structure of the quadruple-bonded dimolybdenum(II) complex tetra-kis-( μ -4-methyl-benzoato- κ 2 O : O ')bis[(tetra-hydro-furan-κ O )molybdenum(II)] tetra-hydro-furan disolvate, [Mo 2 (C 8 H 7 O 2 ) 4 (C 4 H 8 O) 2 ]·2C 4 H 8 O, are presented. This complex crystallizes in a triclinic cell with low-symmetry space group P . The dimolybdenum paddlewheel structure comprises four methyl-benzoate ligands and two axial THF ligands. The dimolybdenum bond distance of 2.1012 (4) Å is exemplary of this class of compounds.