Thallium(III) complexes of the metalloligands [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4] and [Pt2(μ-Se)2(PPh3)4]

Reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with the diarylthallium(III) bromides Ar₂TlBr [Ar = Ph and p-ClC₆H₄] in methanol gave good yields of the thallium(III) adducts [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlAr₂]⁺, isolated as their salts. The corresponding selenide complex [Pt₂(μ-Se)₂(PPh₃)₄TlPh₂]BPh₄ was similarly synthesised from [Pt₂(μ-Se)₂(PPh₃)₄], Ph₂TlBr and NaBPh₄. The reaction of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with PhTlBr₂ gave [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlBrPh]⁺, while reaction with TlBr₃ gave the dibromothallium(III) adduct [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlBr₂]⁺[TlBr₄]⁻. The latter complex is a rare example of a thallium(III) dihalide complex stabilised solely by sulfur donor ligands. X-ray crystal structure determinations on the complexes [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlPh₂]BPh₄, [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlBrPh]BPh₄ and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlBr₂][TlBr₄] reveal a greater interaction between the thallium(III) centre and the two sulfide ligands on stepwise replacement of Ph by Br, as indicated by shorter Tl-S and Pt?Tl distances, and an increasing S-Tl-S bond angle. Investigations of the ESI MS fragmentation behaviour of the thallium(III) complexes are reported.     

The arylation of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4]

Routes to the synthesis of the mixed sulfide-phenylthiolate complex [Pt₂(μ-S)(μ-SPh)(PPh₃)₄]⁺ have been explored; reaction of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with excess Ph₂IBr proceeds readily to selectively produce this complex, which was structurally characterised as its PF₆⁻ salt. Reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with other potent arylating reagents (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) also produce the corresponding nitroaryl-thiolate complexes [Pt₂(μ-S){μ-SC₆H₂(NO₂)₂X}(PPh₃)₄]⁺ (X = H, F). The complex [Pt₂(μ-S)(μ-SPh)(PPh₃)₄]⁺ reacts with Me₂SO₄ to produce the mixed alkyl/aryl bis-thiolate complex [Pt₂(μ-SMe)(μ-SPh)(PPh₃)₄]²⁺, but corresponding reactions with the nitroaryl-thiolate complexes are plagued by elimination of the nitroaryl group and formation of [Pt₂(μ-SMe)₂(PPh₃)₄]²⁺. [Pt₂(μ-S)(μ-SPh)(PPh₃)₄]⁺ also reacts with Ph₃PAuCl to give [Pt₂(μ-SAuPPh₃)(μ-SPh)(PPh₃)₄]²⁺.     

A versatile entry into aqueous niobium chemistry: isolation and structure of the intermediate Nb4(μ2-O)2(μ2-OC2H5)4Cl4(OC2H5)4(HOC2H5)4

The reduction of ethanolic solutions of niobium pentachloride with zinc, followed by treatment with aqueous acids serves as a versatile entry into the aqueous solution chemistry of niobium. From the zinc-reduced solution, the major intermediate, Nb₄(μ₂-O)₂(μ₂-OC₂H₅)₄Cl₄(OC₂H₅)₄(HOC₂H₅)₄, was isolated and the crystal structure determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pccn, with Z=4, a=21.0105(9), b=11.0387(5), c=19.1389(8), V=4438.9(3) ų, M_r=1090.19,R₁=0.0327 and wR₂=0.0876. The structure revealed a centrosymmetric tetrameric Nb(IV) complex, consisting of a pair of edge-sharing bi-octahedral Nb₂(μ₂-OC₂H₅)₄Cl₂(OC₂H₅)₂(HOC₂H₅)₂ units that are joined by two axial oxo ligands. The Nb-Nb distance of 2.7458(3) Å is consistent with a single metal-metal bond.     

A one-dimensional copper (II) coordination polymer [Cu3(ampym)2(μ1,1-N3)4(μ1,3-N3)2(dmf)2]n (ampym = 2-aminopyrimidine) containing both end-on and end-to-end azido bridges

A new polynuclear copper (II) complex, derived from the azido-bridging ligand and 2-aminopyrimidine, has been synthesized and its 3-D structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods at two different temperatures. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic system space group, with the central copper atom lying on an inversion centre. The crystal structure is built up by trinuclear units (each of them contains two double end-on azido bridges) linked through two azide ions in an end-to-end (EE) fashion, to yield the polymer chain [Cu₃(ampym)₂(μ_1,1-N₃)₄(μ_1,3-N₃)₂(dmf)₂]_n. Magnetic susceptibility measurement shows a ferromagnetic interaction above 30 K, whereas a weak anti-ferromagnetic interaction prevails in the range of 30-2 K.     

Heterobimetallic platinum-bismuth aggregates derived from [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4]

The metalloligand [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] reacts with Bi(S₂CNEt₂)₃ or Bi(S₂COEt)₃ in methanol to produce the orange cationic adducts [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄Bi(S₂CNEt₂)₂]⁺ and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄Bi(S₂COEt)₂]⁺, respectively, isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. An X-ray structure determination on [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄Bi(S₂CNEt₂)₂]PF₆ reveals the presence of a six-coordinated bismuth centre with an approximately nido-pentagonal bipyramidal coordination geometry. Fragmentation pathways for both complexes have been probed using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry; ions [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₂Bi(S₂CXEt_n)₂]⁺ (X = O, n = 1, X = N, n = 2) are formed by selective loss of two PPh₃ ligands, and at higher cone voltages the species [(Ph₃P)PtS₂Bi]⁺ is observed. Ions formed by loss of CS₂ are also observed for the xanthate but not the dithiocarbamate ions.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene gold(I) and silver(I) adducts of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4]

Reaction of the metalloligand [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes IPrAuCl, IMesAuCl and IMesAgCl in methanol gave the first examples of metal adducts of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] that contain NHC ligands, namely [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄AuL]⁺ (L = IPr, IMes) and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄AgIMes]⁺. The complexes were isolated as hexafluorophosphate salts. Reaction of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with excess IPrAuCl in refluxing methanol yielded only the mono-adduct, in contrast to the behaviour with the gold(I) phosphine complex Ph₃PAuCl, which undergoes double addition giving [Pt₂(μ-SAuPPh₃)₂(PPh₃)₄]²⁺. The X-ray structure of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄AuIPr]PF₆ was determined and reveals that the ‘free’ sulfide is substantially sterically protected by the IPr ligand, accounting for the low reactivity towards addition of a second AgIPr⁺ moiety.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of the molecular loop [cis-Mo2(N,N-di-p-anisylformamidinate)2]2(O2C-CHCCH-CO2)2

A new molecular loop composed of two quadruply bonded Mo₂(DAniF)₂ units (DAniF=N,N^′-di-p-anisylformamidinate) linked by two chiral allene-1,3-dicarboxylate anions has been prepared from the reaction of [cis-Mo₂(DAniF)₂(MeCN)₄](BF₄)₂ with the bis(tetraethylammonium) salt of allene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid. This compound, [cis-Mo₂(DAniF)₂]₂(O₂C-CHCCH-CO₂)₂ (1), has been characterized by X-ray crystallography and by ¹H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The molecule possesses a center of inversion and hence is meso. There is only weak electronic coupling between the two Mo₂ ⁴⁺ units as revealed by electrochemical measurements.     

Thiotungstates containing the syn-[W2(O/S)2(μ-S)2] (E = O, S) and cuboidal [W2Cu2(μ3-S)4] cores

Reaction of [W^VIS₄]²⁻ with ethane-1,2-dithiol edtH₂ in the presence of the sulfide scavenger Cd²⁺ yielded the dinuclear tungstate syn-[{(edt)W^V(O/S)}₂(μ-S)₂]²⁻ (1), with the terminal S/O disordered over the two tungsten sites in the ratio 0.8:02. In the presence of thiocyanate, phosphine and CuI, the anionic cuboidal clusters of composition [{(SCN)₃W^V}₂{Cu^I(PPh₃)}₂(μ₃-S)₄]²⁻ (2) and (3, diphos = 1,2-bis(o-diphenylphosphinophenyl)ethane), and possibly via an intermediate [{(SCN)₃W^VS}₂(μ-S)₂]⁴⁻. The crystal and molecular structures of [Et₄N]₂1, [Et₄N]₂2 · H₂O and [Et₄N]₂3 · H₂O have been determined.     

A novel tetranuclear hydrogenphosphate-bridged Cu(II) cluster. Synthesis, structure, spectroscopy and magnetism of [Cu4(dpyam)4(μ4,η-HPO4)2(μ-X)2]X2(H2O)6 (X = Cl, Br)

Two novel tetranuclear compounds with an unprecedented mode of a hydrogenphosphato bridge, [Cu₄(dpyam)₄(μ₄,η³-HPO₄)₂(μ-X)₂]²⁺ (in which dpyam = di-2-pyridylamine and X = Cl (1), Br (2)) have been synthesised and characterised structurally and magnetically. The Cu(II) ions in the structures each display a square-pyramidal geometry, with two tridentate hydrogenphosphato groups bridging four copper atoms in a μ₄,η³ coordination mode which is rarely found in hydrogenphosphate metal compounds. Each (different) pair of Cu(II) ions is additionally bridged by halide ions, with relatively long Cu-X distances (2.551(3)-2.604(3) Å for 1 and 2.707(1)-2.766(2) Å for 2) and subsequently also a small Cu-X-Cu angle (65.7(1)° and 65.1(1)° for 1 and 61.6(1)° and 62.4(1) for 2) and a large Cu-X-Cu angle (95.5(1)° and 96.5(1)° for 1 and 91.1(1)° and 92.6(1)° for 2). Cu?Cu distances in the tetranuclear units varies from 2.802(3) to 5.232(3) Å for 1 and from 2.834(1) to5.233(1) Å in 2. The lattice structures are stabilised by extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The magnetic susceptibility measurements down to 5 K revealed a weak ferromagnetic interaction between the outer pairs of Cu(II) ions which vary from 22 to 46 cm⁻¹ in 1 and 12 to 33 cm⁻¹ in 2 and a moderately strong antiferromagnetic interaction between the inner Cu(II) ions of −79 cm⁻¹ in 1 and −83 cm⁻¹ in 2, via the Cu-O-P-O-Cu pathway.     

First crystallographic determination of dichloro-bridged dinuclear rhodium Cp* complex with neutral Me2CO molecules. [Rh2(Cp*)2(μ-Cl)2(Me2CO)2](BF4)2 (Cp* = η-C5Me5)

The single crystals of dichloro-bridged dinuclear Rh-Cp* complex with neutral Me₂CO molecules, [Rh₂(Cp*)₂(μ-Cl)₂(Me₂CO)₂](BF₄)₂ (Cp* = η⁵-C₅Me₅), was isolated and the structure was in first determined crystallographically.     

Reactivity of [PdCl(μ-med)]2 with monodentate or bidentate ligands. Structure of the dinuclear complexes [Pd(μ-med)(PPh3)]2(BF4)2 and [Pd(μ-med)(bpy)]2(BF4)2. [Hmed=N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole]

Treatment of the ligand N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole with [Pd(CH₃COO)₂]₃ and reaction of [PdCl(μ-med)]₂ with pyridine (py) or triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) in the presence of AgBF₄ produced the following complexes: [Pd(CH₃COO)(μ-med)]₂, [Pd(μ-med)(py)]₂(BF₄)₂ and [Pd(μ-med)(PPh₃)]₂(BF₄)₂. Similar reactions carried out with 2,2^′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) produced [Pd(μ-med)(bpy)]_x(BF₄)_x (x=1 or 2) and [Pd(μ-med)(dppp)]_x(BF₄)_x (x=1 or 2). Treatment of [Pd(μ-med)(bpy)]_x(BF₄)_x with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] produced [Pd₃Cl₂(μ-med)₂(bpy)₂](BF₄)₂. Treatment of [Pd(μ-med)(dppp)]_x(BF₄)_x with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] produced a mixture of [Pd(μ-Cl)(dppp)]₂(BF₄)₂ and [Pd(μ-med)₂(dppp)]²⁺. X-ray crystal structures of [Pd(μ-med)(PPh₃)]₂(BF₄)₂ · 2CH₃CN and [Pd(μ-med)(bpy)]₂(BF₄)₂ · 0.5CH₃OH are presented.     

Synthesis of some pentanuclear platinum clusters [Pt5(CO)6(L)4]. The X-ray structure of [Pt5(μ-CO)5(CO)(PCy3)4]

[Pt₅(μ-CO)₅(CO)L₄] (L = PPh₃1, PPh₂Bz 2, AsPh₃3, PEt₃4, PCy₃5) have been synthesized by reacting [Pt₃(μ-CO)₃(PR₃)₃] with H₂O₂ (1 and 2), by reduction of cis-[PtCl₂(CO)(PEt₃)] with Zn dust (4), and by the Zn reduction of [Pt₃(μ-CO)₃(PCy₃)₃] in the presence of [PtCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] (5). Complex 5 has not been observed previously and has been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Oxidation of the phosphine ligands with H₂O₂ is a new way to synthesize 1 and 2. The first complete NMR characterization of these complexes has also been achieved, and showed that these pentanuclear cluster complexes exhibit similar stereochemistries in solution and in the solid state. The observed ¹J_Pt-Pt values do not have any correlation with the corresponding bond lengths, again pointing out the irregular behaviour of such parameter in Pt complexes.     

Hydrido-derivatives of [Ir4(CO)10(diphosphine)]: X-ray analyses of [Ir4H(CO)9(μ-Ph2PH(CH3)PPh2)] and [Ir4 H(CO)9(μ-Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2)] (n = 2, 3)

Some novel hydrido-anions of general formula [Ir₄H(CO)₉(μ-L-L)]⁻ (L-L = Ph₂PCH(CH₃)PPh₂, Ph₂P(CH₂)₂PPh₂, Ph₂P(CH₂)₃PPh₂ and Ph₂AsCH₂AsPh₂) have been obtained by the reaction of [Ir₄(CO)₁₀(μ-L-L)] with the base 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene in wet dichloromethane. According to IR and ¹H, ³¹P and ¹³C NMR data at low temperature, these anionic derivatives display a single conformation in solution: three edge-bridging COs around the triangular basal face and both the hydride and the bidentate ligands located in axial positions relative to this face. The structures of four compounds were established by X-ray diffraction studies, which confirmed the configuration proposed on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Molecular structure of tetranuclear [{Mo2O(S2CNEt2)(η-O2CCF3)(μ-N-o-tol)2}2(μ-O)(μ-O2CCF3)2] formed upon addition of trifluoroacetic acid to syn-[MoO(μ-N-o-tol)(S2CNEt2)]2

Addition of trifluoroacetic acid to syn-[MoO(μ-N-o-tol)(S₂CNEt₂)]₂ in chloroform affords tetranuclear [{Mo₂O(S₂CNEt₂)(η¹-O₂CCF₃)(μ-N-o-tol)₂}₂(μ-O)(μ-O₂CCF₃)₂] which has been crystallographically characterised. It consists of four molybdenum(V) centres linked via bridging imido, trifluoroacetate and oxo ligands and results from replacement of a dithiocarbamate by two trifluoroacetate ligands.     

Synthesis and characterisation of [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-I)(PPh3)4] - A cationic iodo analogue of the metalloligand [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4]

Reaction of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with a number of transition metal-iodo complexes leads to the formation of the cationic iodo analogue [Pt₂(μ-S)(μ-I)(PPh₃)₄]⁺, identified using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI MS). Synthetic routes to this complex were developed, using the reaction of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with either [PtI₂(PPh₃)₂] or elemental iodine. The complex was characterised by NMR spectroscopy, ESI MS and an X-ray structure determination, which reveals the presence of a planar, disordered {Pt₂SI}⁺ core. Monitoring the iodine reaction by ESI MS allows the identification of various iodine species, including the short-lived intermediate [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄I]⁺, which allows a mechanism for the reaction to be proposed.     

Fe-Rh and Fe-Ir clusters substituted by diphenylacetylene: Synthesis, solid state structure and electrochemical behaviour of [Fe2Ir2(CO)10(μ4:η-PhCCPh)], [FeIr2(CO)9(μ3:η-PhCCPh)], and [Fe2Rh(CO)8(μ3:η-PhCCPh)]

The reaction between [Fe₂Ir₂(CO)₁₂]²⁻ and diphenylacetylene in refluxing CH₃CN yields the substituted cluster [Fe₂Ir₂(CO)₁₀(PhC₂Ph)]²⁻ (1). In the crystals, the four metal atoms define a butterfly arrangement whose Ir-Ir hinge is parallel to the acetylenic C₂ unit. The neutral triangular cluster [FeIr₂(CO)₉(PhC₂Ph)] (2) is obtained by the treatment of 1 with acids at room temperature; in this 48 valence electrons species, the C-C and the Ir-Ir bonds are also parallel, in the coordination mode.The cluster [Fe₂Rh(CO)₁₀]⁻ reacts with diphenylacetylene in refluxing THF yielding [Fe₂Rh(CO)₈(PhC₂Ph)]⁻ (3). In this 46 C.V.E.’s cluster, the C₂ unit is perpendicular to the Fe-Fe edge, exemplifying the bonding mode. According to ¹³C NMR spectra, the structure of the three clusters is maintained in solution. Electrochemical investigations show that the one-electron oxidation of [Fe₂Ir₂(CO)₁₀(L)]²⁻ (L = 2CO, PhC₂Ph) as well as the one-electron reduction of [Fe₂Rh(CO)₈(PhC₂Ph)]⁻ only generates the respective short lived products.     

A structural investigation of the heterobimetallic carbocation complex [Cp(CO)2Fe{μ-CH2CH(CH2)3}W(CO)3Cp]BPh4

The reaction of [Cp^∗(CO)₂Fe{μ-CH₂CH(CH₂)₃}W(CO)₃Cp]PF₆ with NaBPh₄ in dry acetone gave [Cp^∗(CO)₂Fe{μ-CH₂CH(CH₂)₃}W(CO)₃Cp]BPh₄. The bond Fe-C_β is shorter than that reported for the shorter chain carbocationic complexes. The data suggest that metallacyclopropane character is on the iron side of the molecule both in the solid state and in solution.     

Dinuclear platinum complexes with designer thiolate ligands from the monoalkylation of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4]

Alkylation reactions of the nucleophilic platinum(II) sulfide complex [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with functionalised alkylating agents have been investigated as a versatile synthetic route to dinuclear, cationic sulfide-thiolate complexes of the type [Pt₂(μ-S)(μ-SR)(PPh₃)₄]⁺, extending the range of thiolate complexes that can be prepared using this methodology. A wide range of functional groups can be incorporated, using appropriate alkylating agents, and include ketone, ester, amide, hydrazone, semicarbazone, thiosemicarbazone, oxime, guanidine, urea and thiourea groups.     

Synthesis and characterisation of adducts of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4] with organo-palladium and platinum-hydride substrates

The reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] towards a range of palladium(II) complexes containing organometallic ligands (cyclopalladated N-donor ligands, η³-allyl, phenyl) have been explored, leading to the formation of a series of cationic, trinuclear sulfido-bridged aggregates containing {Pt₂PdS₂} cores. [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] also reacts with the platinum(II) hydride complex trans-[PtHCl(PPh₃)₂] giving the adduct [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PtH(PPh₃)]⁺. X-ray crystal structure determinations on the complexes [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PdPh(PPh₃)]PF₆ and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PtH(PPh₃)]PF₆ are reported, and show the expected bis μ₃-sulfido aggregates with three square-planar metal centres.