Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, NMR characterization and theoretical calculations on [Cp2Ta(η2-H2)(CO)]+, the first thermally stable group 5 dihydrogen complex

Protonation of Cp2TaH(CO) (Cp  =  C5H5, 1a; C5H4But, 1b) by HBF4·Et2O at −78 °C in CH2Cl2 affords [Cp2TaH2(CO)]BF4 (2, 3) as mixtures of 2 isomers. The minor ones (2a, 2b) contain the known trans-dihydride [Cp2TaH2(CO)]+ cations whereas the major ones (3a, 3b) are [Cp2Ta(η2-H2)(CO)]BF4, the first group 5 dihydrogen complexes. The crystal structure of the analogous complex 3a·BArf4 recorded at 120 K confirms the presence of the coordinated dihydrogen ligand, which displays an H–H separation of 1.09(2) A in agreement with distances calculated from NMR data. Protonation of Cp2TaH2(SiMe2Ph) by (Et2O)2 ·HBArf4 does not lead to an analogous silane derivative but to the new dinuclear complex [(Cp2…