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-(-4-methyl-benzoato- :')bis[(tetra-hydro-furan-κ)molybdenum(II)] tetra-hydro-furan disolvate, [Mo(CHO)(CHO)]·2CHO, are presented. This complex crystallizes in a triclinic cell with low-symmetry space group . 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.