Activation and cleavage of alkynes by the dinuclear tantalum complexes ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-H)(4) and ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N-2)(mu-H)(2) (where NPN = PhP(CH2SiMe2NPh)(2))

Reaction of phenylacetylene with the dinuclear tetrahydride complex ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-H)(4) gives the product ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-PhCCH)(mu-H)(2) (where NPN is PhP(CH2SiMe2NPh)(2)). Activation of other terminal alkynes by ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-H)(4) accesses ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-RCCH)(mu-H)(2) (R = n-Pr, t-Bu). Crystallographic analysis of the R = Ph derivative showed it to be a bis(mu-alkylidene) bound asymmetrically to the two tantalum centres. Storage of solutions of ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-PhCCH)(mu-H)(2) under vacuum promotes the loss of H-2 and cleavage of the C-C bond to give a bis(mu-alkylidyne) complex, ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-CPh)(mu-CH). Addition of diphenylacetylene did not give the desired ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-CPh)(2), but rather promotes a complex decomposition of the supporting [NPN] ligands. Reaction of phenylacetylene with the dinitrogen complex ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N-2)(mu-H)(2) results in the dissociation of the bound dinitrogen and the formation of ([NPN]Ta)(2)(mu-PhCCH)(mu-H)(2), which is identical to that derived from the reaction with the dinuclear tetrahydride.