Reactivity of [MO] (M = Tc, Re) core towards 2-mercapto-1,3-azole ligands. Formation of a new organometallic complex of Re(IV) and X-ray crystal structures

Imidazole-2-thiol derivatives H₂L^1-3 (H₂L¹ = 1H-benzoimidazole-2-thiol, H₂L² = 5-methyl-1H-benzoimidazole-2-thiol, and H₂L³ = 1H-imidazole-2-thiol) act as neutral monodentate ligands in a number of technetium and rhenium complexes. Disubstituted M(V) (M = Tc, Re) complexes of the type AsPh₄]{MOCl₂(H₂Lⁿ)₂(H₂O)]Cl₂} are formed when MOCl₄]⁻ react with H₂L^1-3 in 1:2 stoichiometric ratio. Single crystal X-ray structure determinations were carried out on AsPh₄]{TcOCl₂(H₂L¹)₂(H₂O)]Cl₂}. The coordination sphere is pseudo-octahedral in which the sulfur atoms of two ligands sit in the equatorial plane and a water molecule is in trans to the TcO multiple bond. All the complexes react with an excess of the corresponding ligand to form tetrasubstituted cationic species {MO(H₂Lⁿ)₄]Cl₃}. These complexes can be also isolated by reaction of MOCl₄]⁻ with an excess of ligand. No complex is obtained with benzothiazole-2-thiol (HL⁴) and benzoxazole-2-thiol (HL⁵). Ligand exchange reactions of ReOCl₃(PPh₃)₂] with HL^4,5 have also been investigated. Treating the oxo-precursor with HL⁴ no product is isolated, while with HL⁵ the chelate oxo-compound ReOCl₂(L⁵)(PPh₃)] is formed as two isomers. An interesting organometallic complex of Re(IV) ReCl₃(L^5∗)(PPh₃)₂] is obtained when a slight excess of HL⁵ reacts with ReOCl₃(PPh₃)₂] in refluxing benzene solution and in air. Geometry about the Re atom is approximately octahedral in which the equatorial plane contains three Cl atoms and the carbon atom of the benzoxazole ligand anion, the apical positions are occupied by two PPh₃. The reaction with O-ethyl S-hydrogen p-tolyl carbonothioimidate HL⁶ which contains the same heteroatoms of HL⁵ does not form an organometallic species, but forms the chelate oxo-Re(V) complex ReOCl₂(L⁶)(PPh₃)]. The solid-state structure has been authenticated by X-ray crystallography.