TA(5)-INDENYL)TETRAKIS(MU-IODO)DIMOLYBDENUM(MO-MO)

The title compound, [Mo-2(I)(4)(C9H7)(2)], is synthesized by the react ion of MoI3(thf)(3) (thf = tetrahydrofuran) and sodium indenyl, follow ed by the further reaction of an intermediate product with tetraphenyl phosphonium iodide to form tetraphenylphosphonium indenyl-triiodomolyb date. The title compound forms from the latter compound by loss of tet raphenylphosphonium iodide. The product is a tetra-mu-iodo-bridged din uclear molybdenum complex with two terminal indenyl ligands. The inden yl groups are eta(5)-bonded to the Mo atoms. The molecule sits on a cr ystallographic inversion center and has non-crystallographic symmetry C-2h. The metal-metal distance is 2.720 (4) Angstrom.