Synthesis, characterization, DFT calculations, and reactivity study of a nitrido-bridged dimeric vanadium(iv) complex.

Two vanadium(iii) complexes, CztBu(PyriPr)2VCl2 (1) and CztBu(PyriPr)2V(N3)2 (2), were synthesized and characterized. Chemical reduction of both 1 and 2 gives the thermally stable nitrido-bridged vanadium(iv) dimer complex, [{CztBu(PyriPr)2}V]2(μ-N)2 (3), which is a rare example of a dimeric vanadium(iv) complex bridged by two nitrido ligands. The nitride ligands of 3 are unreactive due to the well-protected environment provided by the pincer ligand and its substituents, as is supported by its X-ray crystal structure and further described by DFT calculations.