A Bioctahedral Nb^IV Cluster with Bridging Sulfides: [Nb₂(μ-S)₂Cl₄(thf)₄]

The title compound, tetrachloro-1κ²Cl,2κ²Cl-tetrakis(tetrahydrofuran-O)-1κ²O,2κ²O-di-μ-thioxo-1:2κ⁴S-diniobium(IV)(Nb—Nb), [Nb₂Cl₄S₂(C₄H₈O)₄], was obtained by the reaction of NbCl₄(thf)₂ (thf is tetrahydrofuran) with S(SiMe₃)₂ (hexamethyldisilathiane) in tetrahydrofuran. The compound forms edge-sharing bioctahedral clusters with bridging sulfide ligands and terminal chloride and thf ligands. All thf ligands coordinate in the equatorial plane formed by the Nb—S—Nb—S cycle. Two independent half dimers are found in the asymmetric unit about independent inversion centers located at the midpoints of the Nb—Nb bonds. Distance ranges are: Nb—Nb, 2.865 (1)–2.869 (1); Nb—Cl, 2.370 (2)–2.388 (2); Nb—S, 2.324 (2)–2.336 (2) Å.

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