Pentacyanopropenide group as ligand in organometallic chemistry. Crystal structure and electrochemical studies of (Et4N)[W(CO)5{(C(CN)2C(CN)C(CN)2}]

Abstract The title complex has been obtained by reaction of the tetraethylammonium pentacyanopropenide with tungsten hexacarbonyl in acetone. Its crystal structure involves discrete [W(CO)5{C3(CN)5}]− anions in which the organic fragment is N-coordinated via one of the nitrogen atoms of a cyano group borne by one of the terminal carbon atoms of the allylic skeleton. The anion presents a distorted octahedral coordination with a W–N bond length [2.168(5) A] considerably longer than the W–C bond lengths [cis-W–C in the range 1.998(7)–2.068(4) A; trans-W–C 1.962(7) A]. Cyclic voltammograms of this complex, recorded in CH2Cl2 and CH3CN (Bu4NPF6 0.1 M), display a quasi-reversible reduction and ir…