The nitrido complex (NEt4)[MoCl3(N)(OH)(MeCN)]

The title compound tetraethylammonium-[(acetonitrile)trichlorohydroxonitrid omolybdate(VI)] (1) is the product of the reaction of the nitrido complex M oCl3(N) with (NEt4)Cl . H2O in acetonitrile. The acetonitrile and the nitri do ligand are arranged trans, while the chloro and the hydroxo group form t he equatorial plane of the pseudo-octahedral molybdenum coordination polyhe dron. Complex 1 may be regarded as a presumably first step in the hydrolysi s of [MoCl4(N)](-) and supplements earlier results showing that [MoCl4(N)]( -) can be hydrolized to form [MoCl4(O)](-). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.