Molecular structure and linkage isomerization of isothiocyanato(3-thiapentane-1,5-dithiolato)oxorhenium(V) complex

The properties of isothiocyanato(3-thiapentane-1,5-dithiolato)oxorhenium(V) [ReO(SSS)NCS, (1a), (3+1) type], where isothiocyanato occupies the fifth position, have been studied. Two linkage isomers, i.e., ReO(SSS)NCS (1a) and ReO(SSS)SCN (1b), were found to be formed during syntheses. The sufficient quantities of 1a were isolated in the solid state, and characterized by X-ray crystallography and IR spectroscopy. From ¹H and ¹⁵N NMR measurements, it was found that 1a is in equilibrium with 1b in liquid state. In the solvents with low dielectric constant such as CH₂Cl₂, only 1a isomer was detected, while in the solvents with high such as CH₃CN, both 1a and 1b isomers were observed. We have obtained the equilibrium constant (K_iso) for the linkage isomerization reaction in CD₃CN by measuring ¹⁵N NMR spectra at various temperatures. The values of K_iso at 25 °C, the standard enthalpy (ΔH^°), and the standard entropy (ΔS^°) for the isomerization equilibrium were evaluated as 0.409, 14.4 kJ mol⁻¹, and 40.9 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively.