The solution structure of bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV)

The behaviour of the bis-chelated oxovanadium(IV) complexes formed by acetylacetone (acac) and five of its derivatives was re-examined through a combination of spectroscopic methods in different solvents. It has been found that the complexes are penta-coordinated with a geometry close to the square pyramid and maintain in solution the same structure as in the solid state. The results rule out a cis-trans isomerism of the species VOL₂S (L = acac or derivative, S = solvent) in solution. Depending on the coordinating ability of the solvent a sixth molecule can be bound, more or less strongly, to the free axial position of the complexes. The combined application of the electronic absorption and IR spectroscopies allows to establish if the complexes in solution are penta- or hexa-coordinated.