THE SURPRISING ROLE OF THF IN VANADIUM MACROCYCLIC CHEMISTRY

Reaction of VCl3(THF)3 With the tetralithium salt of the octaethylporp hyrinogen (OEPG) leads to the formation of remarkably different produc ts depending on the amount of THF available to the participating reage nts. Reaction of VCl3(THF)3 with unsolvated (OEPG)Li4 formed (OEPG)V(n -Bu)(LiTHF)3(mu3-Cl) (3). Further removal of THF from there action med ium such as reaction of V2Cl6(THF)4 with (OEPG)Li4 formed a completely different complex, {[C(C2H5)][C(C2H5)2]6(C4H2N)4}V(THF)2 (4), where o ne ethyl group of the macrocycle was eliminated with consequent partia l aromatization of the ligand.