To date, few quadruply bonded ditungsten compounds have been synthesiz
ed. Only four bidentate phosphine ligands (L-L) have been utilized in
the synthesis of compounds of the general type W2Cl4(L-L)(2). These ph
osphine ligands include: bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) [1], 1,2
-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) [2], 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)et
hane (dmpe) [3] and 1,3-bis(diisopropylphosphino)propane (dippp) [4].
Of particular interest is the ability of these bidentate ligands to ch
elate to one metal center (alpha form) or bridge both metal centers (b
eta form). Results from the synthesis and characterization of alpha-W2
Cl4(dppp)(2) (dppp=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) are discussed. C
rystallographic data for this compound are as follows: P1 (No. 2) with
a=11.934(9), b=12.315(7), c=12.513(4) Angstrom, alpha=83.82(4), beta=
75.03(5), gamma=62.01(5)degrees, V=1569(2) Angstrom(3) and Z=1.