Speciation of [Cp2M2O5] in Polar and Donor Solvents

The speciation of compounds [Cp*2M2O5] (M=Mo, W; Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) in different protic and aprotic polar solvents (methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, acetonitrile), in the presence of variable amounts of water or acid/base, has been investigated by 1H NMR spectrometry and electrical conductivity. Specific hypotheses suggested by the experimental results have been further probed by DFT calculations. The solvent (S)‐assisted ionic dissociation to generate [Cp*MO2(S)]+ and [Cp*MO3]− takes place extensively for both metals only in water/methanol mixtures. Equilibrium amounts of the neutral hydroxido species [Cp*MO2(OH)] are generated in the presence of water, with the relative amount increasing in the order MeCN≈acetone