Sandwich and half-sandwich (imido)niobium complexes

This review discusses the study we have carried out towards the synthesis, structure and reactivity of (imido)niobium complexes, which contain at least one cyclopentadienyl ligand. The following families of niobium complexes are described: (i) half-sandwich imido complexes; (ii) metallocene imido compounds; (iii) imido complexes containing ansa-cyclopentadienyl ligands; (iv) dinuclear imido complexes such as [{Nb(η5-C5H4SiMe3)2Cl}2(μ-1,3-N2C6H4)]. In addition we describe spectroscopic and structural features of the (imido)niobium complexes. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)