Formation and Reactivity of a Tantalocene Trihydride Containing an Aminoethyl‐Functionalised Ligand

The complex [Cp*{C5H4(CH2CH2NMe2)}TaCl2] (1) was synthesised by reaction of the lithium salt LiC5H4(CH2CH2NMe2) with the tantalum compound [Cp*TaCl3(PMe3)]. Reduction of 1 with NaAl(H)2(OCH2CH2OMe)2 leads to the trihydride derivative [Cp*{C5H4(CH2CH2NMe2)}TaH3] (2). The oxidation of 2 in THF with ferrocenium ion leads to a cationic dihydride intermediate [Cp*{C5H4(CH2CH2NMe2)}TaH2]PF6 (3) with an intramolecular stabilization by the aminoethyl side-chain of the cyclopentadienyl ligand. The hemilabile character of the functionalised cyclopentadienyl ligand was checked by treating 3 with electron-donating ligands (e.g. phosphanes, sulfides, anions); in all cases, no displacement of the amino g…