ELECTROCHEMICAL DEHYDRODIMERIZATION OF A VINYLENYLAMIDE LIGAND - FORMATION OF THE BINUCLEAR GROUP (MO-N-III)-(MO-IV)) MIXED-VALENCE STATE(CH=CHCH=CHCH=CHN+MO) WHICH DISPLAYS VERY STRONG ELECTRONIC COUPLING IN THE ((MO)

Electrochemical dehydrodimerisation of an {Mo-N=CHCH=CH2} group gives an all-trans-{=N+CH=CHCH=CHCH=CHN+=} ligand, bridging two Mo-IV centre s; the {(Mo-III)-bridge-(Mo-IV)} mixed-valence state is accessible by electrochemical reduction and exhibits very strong electronic coupling over the 11.7 Angstrom which separates the two metal centres; this ac cords with EHMO calculations which show that the SOMO has substantial (30%) bridging-ligand character; in its capacity to function as a mole cular wire linking two metal centres, the eight-atom hexatriene di(imi de) chain {N(CH)(6)N} compares favourably with C-8 chains of acetyleni c carbons bridging other metal centres.