Bis(μ-2-tert-butyl-phenyl-imido-1:2κ2 N: N)chlorido-κ2Cl-(diethyl ether-1κO)(2η5-penta- methyl-cyclo-penta-dien-yl)lithiumtantalum(V)

In the title compound, [LiTa(C₁₀H₁₅)(C ₁₀H₁₃N)₂Cl(C₄H₁₀O)], the Ta^V atom is coordinated by a ⁵-penta-methyl-cyclo-penta- dienyl (Cp*) ligand, a chloride ion and two N-bonded 2-tert-butyl-phenyl- imide dianions. With respect to the two N atoms, the chloride ion and the centroid of the Cp*ring, the tantalum coordination geometry is approximately tetra-hedral. The lithium cation is bonded to both the 2-tert-butyl-phenyl-imide dianions and also a diethyl ether mol-ecule, in an approximate trigonal planar arrangement. The Ta⋯Li separation is 2.681 (15) Å. In the crystal, a weak C - H⋯Cl inter-action links the mol-ecules. When compared to the 2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl-imide analogue (the Wigley derivative) of the title compound, the two structures are conformationally matched with an overall r.m.s. difference of 0.461Å.