Multiply Bonded Metal(II) Acetate (Rhodium, Ruthenium, and Molybdenum) Complexes with the <i>trans</i>-1,2-Bis(<i>N</i>‑methylimidazol-2-yl)ethylene Ligand

The synthesis and structural characterization of new coordination polymers with the <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-donor ligand <i>trans</i>-1,2-bis­(<i>N</i>-methylimidazol-2-yl)­ethylene (<i>trans</i>-bie) are reported. It was found that the acetate-bridged paddlewheel metal­(II) complexes [M₂(O₂CCH₃)₄(<i>trans</i>-bie)]_<i>n</i> with M = Rh, Ru, Mo, and Cr are linked by the <i>trans</i>-bie ligand to give a one-dimensional alternating chain. The metal–metal multiple bonds were analyzed with density functional theory and CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations (bond orders: Rh, 0.8; Ru, 1.7; Mo, 3.3)