Carbonylmolybdenum complexes with di(imino)pyridine and related ligands: Reduction of a di(imino)pyridine to an aminoiminopyridine system under mild conditions

The reactions of [Mo(CO)₆] towards a 2,6-di(imino)pyridine L¹ and related ligands were studied. The reaction with L¹ afforded two new complexes, [Mo(CO)₄L¹] (1) and [Mo(CO)₄L²] (2), where L² is the 2-amino-6-iminopyridine ligand arising from the hydrogenation of one imine function of L¹; similar reaction with a 2-acetyl-6-iminopyridine ligand L³ afforded [Mo(CO)₄L³] (3). Compounds 1, 2 and 3 have been fully characterised by IR, ¹H NMR and X-ray crystallography; they present a metal ion in a pseudo-octahedral environment, the three organic ligands acting with bidentate N₂ coordination modes. One of the imine functions in 1, the amine function in 2, and the ketone function in 3 are uncoordinated.     

The isolation and structural characterization of copper(II) complexes obtained by oxidation of the 2,6-bis(dicyclohexylphosphinomethyl)pyridine and 2-(diisopropylphosphinomethyl)-1-methylimidazole ligands

The reactions of [Cu(NCCH₃)₄]BF₄ with 2,6-(dicyclohexylphosphinomethyl)pyridine and 2-(diisopropylphosphinomethyl)-1-methylimidazole afford Cu(I) species that convert slowly to the Cu(II) complexes [CuCl{Cy₂P(O)CH₂pyCH₂P(O)Cy₂}(H₂O)]BF₄ and [Cu{MelmCH₂P(O)Prⁱ₂}₂](BF₄)₂, respectively, when their solutions are exposed to air. The structures of the Cu(II) complexes have been established by X-ray crystallography.     

Syntheses and structural characterizations of novel mono- and dinuclear iridium hydrido complexes with polydentate nitrogen donor ligands

New five mono- and dinuclear Ir hydrido complexes with polydentate nitrogen ligands, [Ir(H)₂(PPh₃)₂(tptz)]PF₆ (1), [Ir₂(H)₄(PPh₃)₄(tptz)](PF₆)₂ · 2H₂O (2 · 2H₂O), [Ir(H)₂(PPh₃)₂(tppz)]BF₄ (3), [Ir₂(H)₄(PPh₃)₄(tppz)](BF₄)₂ (4) and [Ir₂(H)₄(PPh₃)₄(bted)](BF₄)₂ · 6CHCl₃ (5 · 6CHCl₃), were systematically prepared by the reactions of the precursor Ir hydrido complex [Ir(H)₂(PPh₃)₂(Me₂CO)₂]X (X=PF₆ and BF₄) with 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz), 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (tppz) and 1,4-bis(2,2^′:6^′,2″-terpyridine-4^′-yl)benzene (bted), and their structures and properties were characterized in the solid state and in solution. Each of the Ir hydrido complexes with polydentate nitrogen ligands crystallographically described a unique coordination mode. Their ¹H NMR spectra demonstrated unusual ¹H NMR chemical shifts of pyridyl rings that are likely induced by the ring current effect of neighboring ligands.     

Synthesis of new platinum(II) complexes containing hybrid thioether-pyrazole ligands: Structural analysis by H and C{H} NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structures

Treatment of the ligands 1,8-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)-3,6-dithiaoctane (bddo), 1,9-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)-3,7-dithianonane (bddn), and 1,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)-2,5-dithiahexane (bddh) with several platinum starting materials as K₂PtCl₄, PtCl₂, [PtCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] and [PtCl₂(PhCN)₂] was developed under different conditions. The reactions did not yield pure products. The ratio of the NSSN, NS, SS, NN, and 2NS isomers has been calculated through NMR experiments. Treatment of the mixtures of complexes with NaBPh₄ affords [Pt(NSSN)](BPh₄)₂ (NSSN = bddo, bddn). These Pt(II) complexes have been characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, IR and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray structures of the complexes [Pt(NSSN)](BPh₄)₂ (NSSN = bddo, bddn) have also been determined. In these complexes, the metal atom is tetracoordinated by the two azine nitrogen atoms of the pyrazole rings and two thioether sulfur atoms. When the [Pt(NSSN)](BPh₄)₂ (NSSN = bddo, bddn) complexes were heated under reflux in a solution of Et₄NBr in CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (1:1), a mixture of isomers was obtained.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic and magnetostructural evidence for the formation of Cu(II) complexes of pyridyl-2-carboxylate (2-pca) and quinolyl-2-carboxylate (2-qca) as a result of a novel oxidative P-dealkylation reaction of diethyl 2-pyridylmethylphosphonate (2-pmpe) and diethyl 2-quinolylmethylphosphonate (2-qmpe) ligands

The interaction of diethyl 2-pyridylmethylphosphonate (2-pmpe) ligand with CuX₂ salts unexpectedly leads to the formation of compounds of the formula Cu(2-pca)₂ [X=Cl⁻ (1), CH₃COO⁻ (3)], and Cu(2-pca)Cl [X=Cl⁻ (2)] (2-pca=pyridine-2-carboxylate ion). The diethyl 2-quinolylmethylphosphonate ligand (2-qmpe) reacts with CuX₂ salts to similarly yield compounds of stoichiometry Cu(2-qca)₂ · H₂O (X=ClO₄ ⁻ (4)], and for X=Cl Cu(2-qca)₂ · H₂O (5) and Cu(2-qca)Cl (6), (2-qca=quinoline-2-carboxylate ion). These compounds are products of a novel oxidative P-dealkylation reaction, which takes place on 2-pmpe and 2-qmpe ligands under the used conditions. The compounds were characterized by infrared, ligand field, EPR spectroscopy and magnetic studies. Cu(2-pca)₂ exists in two crystalline forms, a blue form (1) and a violet form (3). For 3 the single-crystal structure was determined. The copper atom is four-coordinated in a square-planar geometry. The stack between related (and hence parallel) pca moieties involves interatomic distances of 3.27 Å. Cu(2-qca)₂ · H₂O also exists in two forms, a green (4) and a blue-green (5). Both these complexes are five coordinated, involve the same CuN₂O₃ chromophore and are examples of the distortion isomers. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements (1.9-300 K) have shown that the antiferromagnetic coupling observed is much stronger in 6 than in 1, 3, 4 and 5. For 2 a ferromagnetic exchange occurs.     

Highly flexible O,O′,N ligands and their Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn complexes

Three new chiral ligands bearing an O,O′,N donor set (O_methoxyO_hydroxyN_pyridine) were synthesised and coordinated to Fe^III, Fe^II, Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II to yield complexes with the general formula [M(OON)Cl_x]_y. While the pyridine N and the hydroxy O atoms coordinate strongly to all applied metal ions, the methoxy donor seems not to be involved in coordination, although some evidence for a weak interaction between O_Me and the Zn^II were found in NMR spectra. In the bidentate O′,N coordination mode the new ligands exhibit several coordination geometries as analysed in the solid compounds by XRD, EXAFS and EPR and in solution by UV-Vis absorption, cyclic voltammetry, EXAFS, EPR or NMR spectroscopy.     

Heterobimetallic M/Zn (M = Cu, Ni) complexes with open-chain N- and N,O-ligands: Template synthesis from metal powders and supramolecular crystal structures

A series of new heterometallic Cu^IIZn^II and Ni^IIZn^II complexes with N- and N,O open-chain multidentate ligands (L¹ = 4,6,6-trimethyl-1,9-diamino-3,7-diazanon-3-ene; L² = 3,7-bis(2-aminoethyl)-1,3,5,7-tetraazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane; L³ = 1,15-dihydroxy-7,9,9-trimethyl-3,6,10,13-tetraazapentadec-6-ene and L⁴ = 1-hydroxy-9-oxy-4,6,6-trimethyl-3,7-diazanon-3-ene) have been prepared through the “direct template synthesis” approach, which is a combination of classical template reactions of amines with acetone/formaldehyde and the “direct synthesis” method based on using elemental metals as starting materials. There is a significant decrease in the reaction time when the “direct synthesis” method is used compared to the conventional template condensation methods. X-ray crystallographic analyses of the complexes with the general formula M(L)ZnX₄ and [CuL⁴ZnCl₃]₂ (M = Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺; L = L¹-L³; X = Cl⁻, NCS⁻) reveal the presence of long intermolecular distance interactions, such as semi-coordination, S?S and H-bonding, in their crystal organization.     

Solid-state and proton NMR characterization of an iron(II) complex of a tridentate, facially coordinating N,N,O donor ligand

Despite the many enzymes that use 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triads to bind iron(II), there are few crystallographically characterized synthetic iron(II) complexes of tridentate ligands that bind through two imidazoles and one carboxylate. We report ¹H NMR characterization of the equilibrium between one such ligand and aqueous Fe²⁺. The formation of 1:1 and 2:1 complexes is evident, but the 1:1 complex is never the exclusive compound in solution. This behavior has not been reported previously for N,N,O ligand-iron(II) complexes. The 2:1 ligand/iron complex crystallizes from solution, and it has been completely characterized including an X-ray crystal structure.     

Studies on the reactions of ruthenium(II) substrates with tridentate (N,N,O) azo ligands

Reactions of 1-{[2-(arylazo)phenyl]iminomethyl}-2-phenol, HL_sal, 1, [where H represents the dissociable protons upon complexation and aryl groups of HL_sal are phenyl for HL¹_sal, p-methylphenyl for HL²_sal, and p-chlorophenyl for HL³_sal], ligands with Ru(H)(CO)(Cl)(PPh₃)₃ afforded complexes of composition [(L_sal)Ru(CO)(Cl)(PPh₃)] and (L_sal)₂Ru where the N,N,O donor tridentate (L_sal)⁻ ligands coordinated the metal centre facially and meridionally, respectively. Stepwise formation of [(L_sal)₂Ru] has been ascertained. Reaction of 1-{[2-(arylazo)phenyl]iminomethyl}-2-napthol, HL_nap, 2, [where H represents the dissociable protons upon complexation and aryl groups of HL_nap are phenyl for HL¹_nap, p-methylphenyl for HL²_nap, and p-chlorophenyl for HL³_nap], ligands with Ru(H)(CO)(Cl)(PPh₃)₃ afforded exclusively the complexes of composition [(L_nap)Ru(CO)(Cl)(PPh₃)], where N,N,O donor tridentate (L_nap)⁻ was facially coordinated. The ligand 1-{[2-(phenylazo)phenyl]aminomethyl}-2-phenol, HL, 3, was prepared by reducing the aldimine function of HL¹_sal. Reaction of HL with Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂ afforded new azosalen complex of Ru(III) in concert with regiospecific oxygenation of phenyl ring of HL. All the new ligands were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The complexes were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques and subsequently confirmed by the determination of X-ray structures of selected complexes.     

Syntheses, redox and UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical properties of mono- and dinuclear tris(pyrazolyl)borato-oxomolybdenum(IV) complexes with pyridine ligands

Reaction of [Mo^VI(Tp^Me,Me)(O)₂Cl] with a variety of pyridine-based ligands [pyridine (py), 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy), 4-phenylpyridine (phpy) and 1,2′-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene (bpe)] in toluene in the presence of Ph₃P affords the mononuclear oxo-Mo(IV) complexes [Mo(Tp^Me,Me)(O)Cl(L)] (L=py, phpy or monodentate bpy; abbreviated as Mo(py), Mo(phpy) and Mo(bpy), respectively) and the dinuclear complexes [{Mo(Tp^Me,Me)(O)Cl}₂(μ-L)] (L=bpy, bpe; abbreviated as Mo₂(bpy), Mo₂(bpe), respectively). The complex Mo₂(bpy), together with the by-product [{Mo(Tp^Me,Me)(O)Cl}₂(μ-O)], have been crystallographically characterised. Electrochemical studies on the oxo-Mo(IV) complexes reveal the presence of reversible Mo(IV)/Mo(V) couples at around −0.3 V versus ferrocene/ferrocenium in every case. For the dinuclear complexes Mo₂(bpy) and Mo₂(bpe) these redox processes are coincident, indicating that they are largely metal-centred and not significantly delocalised across the bridging ligand. In contrast, Mo₂(bpe) alone shows two reversible reductions, separated by 320 mV; these could be described as ligand-centred reductions of the bpe bridge, or as Mo(IV)/Mo(III) couples which—because of their separation—are substantially delocalised onto the bridging ligand. UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical studies using an OTTLE cell at 243 K revealed that oxidation of the complexes results in spectral changes (collapse of the Mo(IV) d-d transitions, loss in intensity of the Mo→pyridine MLCT transition) consistent with the formation of a Mo(V) state following metal-centred oxidation, but that one-electron reduction of Mo₂(bpe) results in appearance of numerous intense transitions more characteristic of a ligand radical following ligand-centred reduction.     

Mixed S/N and S/P/N ligands from carbohydrates: Synthesis and application in palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

A modular synthetic approach to bidentate and tridentate imino-thioglycoside ligands is reported. In only 5 steps from the known glucosamine derivative 1, a conveniently functionalized thioglycoside 5 is obtained, which after imination afforded the desired ligands in excellent yields. The tridentate phosphine imine thioglycoside ligand 10 was found to be a highly efficient catalyst precursor for palladium-(0)-catalysed asymmetric alkylation of 1,3-diphenylpropenylacetate (8) with dimethyl malonate. The study of a Pd(II) complex shows that there is an efficient stereochemical control of the sulfur configuration upon coordination to the palladium.     

Antiproliferative effect and genotoxicity of novel synthesized palladium complexes with organoarsenic ligands

Three new palladium complexes with general formula [PdCl₂L₂], where L = heterofunctional organoarsenic ligand: (2-isopropoxyphenyl)diphenylarsine (1), (2-methoxyphenyl)-diphenylarsine (2) and (2-hydroxyphenyl)diphenylarsine (3) have been synthesized and fully characterized, including X-ray crystallographic data. Their potential antitumor effect and genotoxicity have been studied as well. The viability test performed on human tumor (MLS) and normal (Hfl-1) cell lines indicates significant cytotoxicity of complexes, which is higher in tumor cells than in normal cells. The lethal doses are comparable with those of standard metal-based chemotherapeutical drugs (carboplatin and oxaliplatin). These palladium complexes exhibit a higher cytotoxicity against tumor cells as against normal cells in vitro. A new static cytometric method was developed and simultaneously the classic AnnexinV test was performed. Complex 2 has an important capacity to induce apoptosis in tumor cells. The apoptotic process is triggered due to the interaction of these complexes with secondary structure of DNA in treated cells. The alkaline single-cell gel assay shows that the level of DNA damages induced by compounds 2 and 3 are significantly higher in tumor cells as in normal cells. These studies shown that complexes 1, 2 and 3 have biologic activity, the effect of complex 2 being superior to its platinum analogues, attributable to its structure.     

Transition metal complexes with pyrazole based ligands, part 18: new binuclear Cu(I), Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes with 3,5-dimethyl-1-thiocarboxamide pyrazole: synthesis, structural and magnetic studies

Three new binuclear metal complexes of the formulas (L = 3,5-dimethyl-1-thiocarboxamide pyrazole) have been synthesized and characterized by chemical analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, solution conductivity, solid state magnetic measurements and X-ray single crystal and variable temperature powder diffraction. Complex 1 forms doubly chloro-bridged dimers, with Cu(II) in distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination with the apical positions occupied by chlorine atoms. Magnetic measurements indicate an antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) centres in the dimer, with the singlet-triplet exchange parameter of J = −19.40 cm⁻¹. Complex 2 forms doubly sulfur-bridged dimers, with Cu(I) in distorted tetrahedral coordination with apical positions occupied by bromine atoms. Complex 3 is a cobalt analogue of 1. It contains dinuclear units formed by five-coordinate high-spin Co(II) in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal environment. The magnetisation of 3 shows no significant departure from Curie-Weiss behaviour between room temperature and 5 K. All crystal structures are stabilized by two-dimensional hydrogen bonding networks between the carboxamide nitrogen donors and the terminal halide acceptors.     

3D hydrogen bonded heteronuclear Co, Ni, Cu and Zn aqua complexes derived from dipicolinic acid

The heteronuclear water-soluble and air-stable compounds [M(H₂O)₅M′(dipic)₂] · mH₂O (M/M′ = Cu^II/Co^II (1), Cu^II/Ni^II (2), Cu^II/Zn^II (3), Zn^II/Co^II (4), Ni^II/Co^II (5), m = 2-3; H₂dipic = dipicolinic acid) have been prepared by self-assembly synthesis in aqueous solution at room temperature, and characterized by IR, UV-Vis and atomic absorption spectroscopies, elemental and X-ray diffraction single crystal (for 1 and 2) analyses. 1-5 represent the first examples of heteronuclear dipicolinate compounds with 3d metals. Extensive H-bonding interactions involving all aqua ligands, dipicolinate oxygens and lattice water molecules further stabilize the dimetallic units by linking them to form three-dimensional polymeric networks.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of five-, six-, and seven-coordinate mononuclear manganese(II) complexes with N-tridentate ligands

A series of four mononuclear manganese (II) complexes with the N-tridentate neutral ligands 2,2^′:6,2^′′-terpyridine (terpy) and N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine (bpea) have been synthesized and crystallographically characterized. The complexes have five- to seven-coordinate manganese(II) ions depending on the additional ligands used. The [Mn(bpea)(Br)₂] complex (1) has a five-coordinated manganese atom with a bipyramidal trigonal geometry, while [Mn(terpy)₂](I)₂ (2) is hexa-coordinated with a distorted octahedral geometry. Otherwise, the reactions of Mn(NO₃)₂ · 4H₂O with terpy or bpea afforded novel seven-coordinate complexes [Mn(terpy)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)] (3) and [Mn(bpea)(NO₃)₂] (4), respectively. 3 has a coordination polyhedron best described as a distorted pentagonal bipyramid geometry with one nitrate acting as a bidentate chelating ligand and the other nitrate as a monodentate one. 4 possesses a highly distorted polyhedron geometry with two bidentate chelating nitrate ligands. These complexes represent unusual examples of structurally characterized complexes with a coordination number seven for the Mn(II) ion and join a small family of nitrate complexes.     

Palladium-catalyzed seven-membered N,O-heterocycle ring formation

3-Methyl-5-methylene-1,3-benzoxazepin-2-one (3) has been prepared starting from o-iodophenyl N-allyl-N-methylcarbamate in the presence of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(0) as catalyst. The X-ray structure of the intermediate palladium complex (2), resulting from oxidative addition of the aromatic iodide to palladium, is reported. It consists of a square planar arrangement of aryl, iodide and two mutually cis triphenylphosphine ligands. The double bond being not coordinated to palladium, its insertion to generate the seven-membered ring almost quantitatively requires the use of thallium acetate in dimethylacetamide, otherwise intermolecular reactions predominate, leading to carbon-carbon bond formation between the aryl and double bond carbon of two and three substrate molecules, respectively, with formation, in the latter case, of a 24-membered ring.     

Synthesis, structure, and characterization of some ruthenium arene complexes of N-(arylmethylene)-2-(methylthio)anilines and 2-(methylthio)aniline

A series of cationic, half-sandwich ruthenium complexes with the general formula [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl(MeSC₆H₄2-NCHAr)][PF₆] (3a-h), have been prepared from the reaction of [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl₂]₂ with various N,S-donor Schiff base ligands derived from 2-(methylthio)aniline and several substituted benzaldehydes. The related aniline complex [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl(MeS-C₆H₄-2-NH₂)][PF₆] (4) was synthesized from 2-(methylthio)aniline. All of the ruthenium complexes were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, and UV/Vis spectroscopies. The molecular structure of complex 4 was determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Reactions of quadruply bonded dimolybdenum(II) and dirhenium(III) complexes with 2,6-bis(dicyclohexylphosphinomethyl)pyridine and the related behavior of the mixed P,S,P ligand bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)sulfide

The first complexes that contain the 2,6-bis(dicyclohexylphosphinomethyl)pyridine ligand (PNP) have been isolated and characterized. The reactions of K₄Mo₂Cl₈, (n-Bu₄N)₂Re₂Cl₈ and PdBr₂(1,5-COD) afford Mo₂Cl₄(PNP)(HPCy₂) (1), ReCl₃(PNP) (2) and PdBr₂(PNP) (4), respectively, while from the reaction of PNP with cis-Re₂(μ-O₂CCH₃)₂Cl₄(H₂O)₂ the heteromacrocylic dication [Cy₂P{CH₂pyCH₂}₂PCy₂]²⁺ has been isolated as its mixed [Cl]⁻/[ReO₄]⁻ salt (3). The reaction of cis-Re₂(μ-O₂CCH₃)₂Cl₄(H₂O)₂ with bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)sulfide (PSP) gives the mononuclear Re(V) complex ReO(OEt)Cl₂(PSP) (5) in which the S atom is not coordinated. The structures of 1-5 have been established by X-ray crystallography, that of 5 being the first for a complex of this ligand.     

Substituted pyridylmethylamide ligands and their zinc complexes

Mononuclear zinc complexes of a family of pyridylmethylamide ligands abbreviated as HL, HL^Ph, HL^Me3, HL^Ph3, and MeL^SMe [HL = N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; HL^Ph = 2-phenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; HL^Me3 = 2,2-dimethyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)propionamide; HL^Ph3 = 2,2,2-triphenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; MeL^SMe = N-methyl-2-methylsulfanyl-N-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-acetamide] were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically and by single crystal X-ray structural analysis. The reaction of zinc(II) salts with the HL ligands yielded complexes [Zn(HL)₂(OTf)₂] (1), [Zn(HL)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (2), [Zn(HL^Ph3)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (3), [Zn(HL^Ph)Cl₂] (4), [Zn(HL^Me3)Cl₂] (5), and [Zn(MeL^SMe)Cl₂] (6). The complexes are either four-, five- or six-coordinate, encompassing a variety of geometries including tetrahedral, square-pyramidal, trigonal-bipyramidal, and octahedral.     

Structural studies on [Mo3S4] and [Mo3S4Cu] complexes with tripodal ligands providing various NxOy (x + Y = 3) donor sets

The interaction of 1,3,5-triamino-1,3,5-trideoxy-cis-inositol (taci) and its N-methylated derivative 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(dimethylamino)-cis-inositol (tdci) with the incomplete [Mo₃S₄]⁴⁺ cube and the heterometallic [Mo₃S₄Cu]⁴⁺ cube have been investigated by X-ray analysis. The crystal structures of [Mo₃S₄(taci+ rmC₃H₆O-H₂O)₃-4H]·2OH₂O (1a, rhombohedral, space group R32, A = 15.964(3), C = 40.59(1) Å, Z = 6), [Mo₃S₄(tdci)₃]Br₄·9.5EtOH·5H₂O (2a, triclinic, space group

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and [CuBrMo₃S₄(tdci)₃]Br₃·11 H₂O·EtOH (3a, monoclinic, space group P2,/n, A = 14.887(3), B = 22.570(4), C = 21.974(5) Å, β = 98.54(2)°, Z = 4) revealed andN-N-O and an N-O-O coordination mode for taci and tdci, respectively. In 1a, taci is coordinated as an anion with deprotonated oxygen and nitrogen donors. In addition, the non-coordinating amino group reacted with one equivalent; of acetone, forming a Schiff base condensation product. For 2a, short Mo---O bonds and high pK_a values (compared to the aqua ion [Mo₃S₄(H₂O)₉]⁴⁺) indicate the formation of a zwitterionic form of the tdci ligand with coordinated alkoxo groups and peripheral dimethylammonium groups. No significant differences were found for the structural properties of the Mo-tdci fragment in 2a and 3a. The coordination modes of taci and tdci, as observed in the solid state, are in agreement with the previously reported solution structures, established by NMR spectroscopy. They are attributed to the specific steric requirements of the two ligands and to a pronounced preference of the [Mo₃(μS)₃(μ₃S)]⁴⁺ core to coordinate a nitrogen donor trans to μ₃S.