Tungsten complexes of aromatic and aliphatic thioaldehydes

Reaction of PPNW(CO)₃(R₂PC₂H₄PR₂)(SH)] (PPN=Ph₃PNPPh₃; R=Me, 1; R=Ph, 2) with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid gave tungsten complexes of thiobenzaldehydes mer-W(CO)₃(R₂PC₂H₄PR₂)(η²-SCHR^′)] (R=Me, 3a-3f; R=Ph, 4a-4e) in high yields. Analogous complexes of aliphatic thioaldehydes mer-W(CO)₃(Me₂PC₂H₄PMe₂)(η²-SCHR^′)] (3g-3l) could only be obtained from the highly electron-rich thiolate complex 1. The structure of 3i (R^′=i-Bu) was determined by X-ray crystallography. In solution the complexes 3 and 4 are in equilibrium with small quantities of their isomers fac-W(CO)₃(R₂PC₂H₄PR₂)(η²-SCHR^′)]. Reaction of complexes 3 with dimethylsulfate followed by salt metathesis with NH₄PF₆ gave the alkylation products mer-W(CO)₃(Me₂PC₂H₄PMe₂)(η²-MeSCHR^′)]PF₆ (5a-5l) as mixtures of E and Z isomers. The methylated thioformaldehyde complex mer-W(CO)₃(Me₂PC₂H₄PMe₂)(η²-MeSCH₂)]PF₆ (5m) was prepared similarly. Nucleophilic addition of hydride (from LiAlH₄) to 5 initially gave thioether complexes mer-W(CO)₃(Me₂PC₂H₄PMe₂)(MeSCH₂R^′)] (mer-6) which rapidly isomerized to fac-W(CO)₃(Me₂PC₂H₄PMe₂)(MeSCH₂R^′)] (fac-6).