Oxo and Hydroxo Tantalocene Complexes:  Synthesis and Reactivity. X-ray Molecular Structures of [(η5-Cp*)TaCl(OH)(η5-C5H4SiMe3)]+Cl-, (η5-Cp*)TaCl(O)(η5-C5H4SiMe3), and [(η5-Cp*)TaCl2(η5-C5H4SiMe3)]+PF6-

Exposure of a THF solution of tantalocene dichloride complexes (η 5 -Cp*)TaCl 2 (η 5 -C 5 H 4 -SiMe 3 ) (1) and (η 5 -Cp*)TaCl 2 (η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) (2) to the ambient atmosphere for 12 h leads to the formation of new tantalum(V) cationic hydroxo complexes [(η 5 -Cp*)TaCl(OH)(η 5 -C 5 H 4 SiMe 3 )] + -Cl- (3) and [(η 5 -Cp*)TaCl(OH)(η 5 -C 5 H 5 )]+Cl - (4). This oxidation reaction is more rapid under oxygen atmosphere since the hydroxo complexes are obtained in better yields within only 15 min. The hydroxo complexes are easily deprotonated by base to generate oxo complexes 5 and 6, which, in turn, react with trimethylsilyl triflate, giving the corresponding cationic silylated complexes 7 and 8…