A novel potassium-centered highly symmetrically polynuclear zirconium complex: K[{(Cp Zr)(3)(mu(3)-N)(mu(3)-NH)(mu(3)-NH2)(3)}(4)(NH2)(5)(NH3)(7)]

Treatment of [Cp ZrCl3] (1: Cp = C5Me5) with KH in liquid ammonia and toluene at -78 degreesC resulted in the complete removal of chloride and formation of the nitrogen-containing zirconium potassium complex K[{(Cp Zr)(3)(mu(3)-N)(mu(3)-NH)(mu-NH,)(3)}(4)(NH2) (NK2)(5)(NH3)(7)](6C7H8)-C-. (2). X-ray structure analysis revealed this complex contains four [(Cp Zr)(3)(mu(3)-N)(mu(3)-NH)(muNH(2))(3)(NH2)(NH3)(2)] building blocks where one of the protons is replaced by an interstitial potassium cation. Each of the four building blocks contains three Zr atoms forming a perfect equilateral triangular core, which is capped inside by a nitrido (N) and outside by an imido (NH) group. and furthermore symmetrically bridged by amido (NH2) groups. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.