Electrochemical and chemical reduction of niobocene dichlorides in the presence of carbon dioxide

Abstract The chemical and electrochemical reduction of the niobocene dichlorides [Nb(η5-C5H4SiMe3)2Cl2]1, [Nb(η5-C5Me5)2Cl2] 2 and [Nb(η5-C5Me4Et)2Cl2] 3, in the presence of carbon dioxide has been investigated. Formation of compounds of the type [Cp2Nb(CO2)] and [Cp2(∗)NbCl(CO2))] 1 has been established by means of IR, ESR and/or NMR spectroscopy. They contain a labile η2-CO2. The order of stability increases with the degree of substitution the Cp. Less stable intermediates in the reduction of the system [Cp2NbCl2]/CO2 are discussed on the basis of cyclovoltammetric and coulometric data.