New PF₃ and Carbonyl Chemistry of Tantalum

Reduction of [TaCl₅] by six equivalents of alkali metal naphthalenide in 1,2‐dimethoxyethane at −60°C followed by treatment with gaseous PF₃ provides the first homoleptic phosphane complex containing tantalum in the −1 oxidation state, [Ta(PF₃)₆]⁻. This can be protonated by concentrated sulfuric acid to yield the previously unknown highly acidic and volatile hydride [HTa(PF₃)₆]. An improved normal‐pressure synthesis of [Ta(CO)₆]⁻ is described. Reduction of the latter species by sodium in liquid ammonia gives the carbonyl trianion [Ta(CO)₅]³⁻ which undergoes monoprotonation and stannylation to form [HTa(CO)₅]²⁻ and [Ph₃SnTa(CO)₅]²⁻, respectively. The hydride is a useful precursor to [(Ph₃PAu)₃Ta(CO)₅], the only known gold cluster of tantalum.