Synthesis and Characterization of the {Si(NHCH₂CH₂NH)₃[Mo(CO)₃]₂}^2– Complex Comprising the Si(NHCH₂CH₂NH)₃^2– Octahedron

Reactions of K₁₂Si₁₇ with the low-valent transition-metal complex Mo­(CO)₃(C₇H₈) in ethylenediamine/toluene solutions in the presence of 2,2,2-cryptand yield the {Si­(NHCH₂CH₂NH)₃[Mo­(CO)₃]₂}^2– dianion, which contains an octahedral Si­(NHCH₂CH₂NH)₃^2– subunit. The SiN₆ core comprises a rare example of a doubly deprotonated ethylenediame ligand in a coordination complex and is also the first structurally characterized example of a homoleptic Si­(N∩N)₃ trischelate. Its structure and spectroscopic properties are described.