Bis(phosphine)-Pd(II) and -Pt(II) complexes containing chiral tetrazole-thiolato rings: Synthesis, structures, and reactivity toward some electrophiles

Bis(azido)bis(phosphine)-Pd(II) and -Pt(II) complexes, M(N₃)₂L₂] {L = PMe₃, PEt₃, PMe₂Ph, dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane}, underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with organic chiral isothiocyanates (R^∗-NCS: R^∗ = (S)-(+)-1-phenylethyl, (R)-(−)-1-phenylethyl, (±)-1-phenylethyl, (S)-(+)-1-indanyl) to give the corresponding tetrazole-thiolato Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes, trans-M{SCN₄(R^∗)]}₂L₂] or M{SCN₄(R^∗)]}₂(dppe)]. Spectroscopic (IR and NMR) and X-ray structural analyses of the products showed that the absolute configuration of the starting organic isothiocyanates is retained throughout the reaction. Further treatments of the isolated tetrazole-thiolato complexes with electrophiles such as HCl or benzoyl chloride produced heterocyclic compounds containing a tetrazole thione or a tetrazolyl sulfide group. In addition, organic tetrazole thiones, S = {CN₄H(R^∗)}] containing a chiral moiety, were prepared from NaN₃ and R^∗-NCS in the presence of water.