Reaction of V(C6H6)2 with the Borane Adducts of Malononitrile [(C6F5)3B·NCCH2CN·B(C6F5)3] and Water [H2O·B(C6F5)3]

Reaction of malononitrile, NCCH2CN, with V(C6H6)2 in toluene in the presence of 2 equiv of B(C6F5)3 afforded the vanadium(I) complex [V(C6H5Me)2][(F5C6)3B·NCCHCN·B-(C6F5)3], in which deprotonation of the malononitrile ligand and arene exchange at the vanadium center have occurred. In the absence of malononitrile, a redox reaction was observed between V(C6H6)2 and the water adduct H2O·B(C6F5)3, which gave the vanadium(I) complex [V(C6H6)2][(F5C6)3BOB(C6F5)2].