Iminoacylation. 1. Addition of Ketoximes or Aldoximes to Platinum(IV)-Bound Organonitriles

A Route to 1,2,4-oxadiazoles and their complexes via platinum-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to organonitriles

A significant activation of the Ctbd1;N group in organonitriles upon their coordination to a platinum(IV) center has been found in the reaction of [PtCl(4)(RCN)(2)] (R = Me, Et, CH(2)Ph) with the nitrile oxides 2,4,6-R'(3)C(6)H(2)CNO (R' = Me, OMe) to give the (1,2,4-oxadiazole)platinum(IV) complexes (R = Me, R' = Me (1); R = Et, R' = Me (2); R = Et, R' = OMe (3); R = CH(2)Ph, R' = Me (4)); the [2 + 3] cycloaddition was performed under mild conditions (unless poor solubility of [PtCl(4)(RCN)(2)] precludes the reaction) starting even from complexed acetonitrile and propionitrile, which exhibit low reactivity in the free state. The reaction between complexes 2-4 and 1 equiv of Ph(3)P=CHCO(2)Me in CH(2)Cl(2) leads to the appropriate platinum(II) complexes (5-7); the reduction failed only in the case of 1 insofar as this complex is insoluble in the most common organic solvents. All the platinum compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, FAB mass spectrometry, and IR and (1)H, (13)C((1)H), and (195)Pt NMR spectroscopies, and three of them also by X-ray crystallography. The oxadiazoles formed in the course of the metal-mediated reaction were liberated almost quantitatively from their Pt(IV) complexes by reaction of the latter (complexes 2-4) with an excess of pyridine in chloroform, giving free 1,2,4-oxadiazoles and trans-[PtCl(4)(pyridine)(2)]; the sequence of the Pt(IV)-mediated [2 + 3] cycloaddition and the liberation opens up an alternative route for the preparation of this important class of heterocycles.

Platinum(IV)-mediated nitrile-sulfimide coupling: a route to heterodiazadienes

Pt(IV)-mediated addition of the sulfimide Ph2S = NH and the mixed sulfide/sulfimides o- and p-[PhS(=NH)](PhS)-C6H4 by the S=NH group to the metal-bound nitriles in the platinum(IV) complexes [PtCl4(RCN)2] proceeds smoothly at room temperature in CH2Cl2 and results in the formation of the heterodiazadiene compounds [PtCl4[NH=C(R)N=SR'Ph]2] (R' = Ph, R = Me, Et, CH2Ph, Ph; R' = o- and p-(PhS)C6H4; R = Et). While trans-[PtCl4(RCN)2] (R = Et, CH2Ph, Ph) reacting with Ph2S=NH leads exclusively to trans-[PtCl4[NH=C(R)N=SPh2]2], cis/trans-[PtCl4(MeCN)2] leads to cis/trans mixtures of [PtCl4[NH=C(Me)N=SPh2]2] and the latter have been separated by column chromatography. Theoretical calculations at both HF/HF and MP2//HF levels for the cis and trans isomers of [PtCl4[NH=C(Me)N=SMe2]2] indicate a higher stability for the latter. Compounds trans-[PtCl4[E-NH=C(R)N=SPh2]2] (R = Me, Et) and cis-[PtCl4[E-NH=C(Me)N=SPh2][Z-NH=C(Me)N=SPh2]] have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The complexes [PtCl4[NH=C(R)N=SPh2]2] undergo hydrolysis when treated with HCl in nondried CH2Cl2 to achieve the amidines [PtCl4[NH=C(NH2)R]2] the compound with R = Et has been structurally characterized) and Ph2SO. The heterodiazadiene ligands, formed upon Pt(IV)-mediated RCN/sulfimide coupling, can be liberated from their platinum(IV) complexes [PtCl4[NH=C(R)N=SR'Ph]2] by reaction with Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2 (dppe) giving free NH=C(R)=SR'Ph and the dppe oxides, which constitutes a novel route for such rare types of heterodiazadienes whose number has also been extended. The hybrid sulfide/sulfimide species o- and p-[PhS(=NH)](PhS)C6H4 also react with the Pt(II) nitrile complex [PtCl2(MeCN)2] but the coupling--in contrast to the Pt(IV) species--gives the chelates [PtCl2[M-I=C(Me)N=S(Ph)C6H4SPh]]. The X-ray crystal structure of [PtCl2[M-I=C(Me)N=S(Ph)C6H4SPh-o]] reveals the bond parameters within the metallacycle and shows an unusual close interaction of the sulfide sulfur atom with the platinum.

Zinc(II)/ketoxime system as a simple and efficient catalyst for hydrolysis of organonitriles

The hydrolysis of sterically hindered and unhindered alkyl nitriles, and also of benzyl and phenyl nitriles RCN (R = Me, CH(2)Cl, Et, n-Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu, t-Bu, p-MeOC(6)H(4)CH(2), Ph), to carboxamides is catalyzed by a novel system of superior simplicity consisting of cheap, widely commercially available, and rather environmentally friendly compounds, that is, a ZnX(2)/ketoxime combination, but it does not proceed at all with either the zinc salt or the ketoxime taken alone. The nature of the anion X(-) in the zinc salt (X = NO(3), Cl, CF(3)SO(3)) or of the ketoxime (Me(2)C=NOH, C(4)H(8)C=NOH, C(5)H(10)C=NOH) does not affect strongly the catalytic properties of the system, but the best results were obtained so far with a Zn(NO(3))(2).6H(2)O/2-propanone oxime molar ratio of 1:4; turnover numbers are typically above ca. 100 but reach as high as 1000 for p-MeOC(6)H(4)CH(2)C(=O)NH(2). The previously unknown structures of the two carboxamide products n-BuC(=O)NH(2) and p-MeOC(6)H(4)CH(2)C(=O)NH(2) were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The complexes [ZnX(2)(R(2)C=NOH)(2)] (X = Cl, R(2) = 2Me, C(4)H(8), C(5)H(10); X = NO(3), R = C(4)H(8)), prepared by heating the appropriate zinc salts with 2 equiv of the ketoxime in acetone and characterized by C, H, N analyses, FAB-MS, (1)H and (13)C[(1)H] NMR spectroscopies, and also X-ray crystallography (for X = Cl, R(2) = 2Me; X = NO(3), R = C(4)H(8)), proved to be catalyst precursors in the conversions because the activity of these species is high only in the presence of 2 equiv of the ketoxime.

Direct addition of alcohols to organonitriles activated by ligation to a platinum(IV) center

Treatment of trans-[PtCl(4)(RCN)(2)] (R = Me, Et) with R'OH (R' = Me, Et, n-Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu) at 45 degrees C in all cases allowed the isolation of the trans-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(R)OR'](2)] imino ester complexes, while the reaction between cis-[PtCl(4)(RCN)(2)] and the least sterically hindered alcohols (methanol and ethanol) results in the formation of cis-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(R)OR'](2)] (R/R' = Me/Me) or trans-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(Et)OR'](2)] (R' = Me, Et), the latter being formed via thermal isomerization (ROH, reflux, 3 h) of the initially formed corresponding cis isomers. The reaction between alcohols R'OH and cis-[PtCl(4)(RCN)(2)] (R = Me, R' = Et, n-Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu; R = Et; R' = n-Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu), exhibiting greater R/R' steric congestion, allowed the isolation of cis-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(R)OR'][(Z)-NH=C(R)OR']] as the major products. The alcoholysis reactions of poorly soluble [PtCl(4)(RCN)(2)] (R = CH(2)Ph, Ph) performed under heterogeneous conditions, directly in the appropriate alcohol and for a prolonged time and, for R = Ph, with heating led to trans-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(R)OR'](2)] (R = CH(2)Ph, R' = Me, Et, n-Pr, i-Pr; R = Ph, R' = Me) isolated in moderate yields. In all of the cases, in contrast to platinum(II) systems, addition of R'OH to the organonitrile platinum(IV) complexes occurs under mild conditions and does not require a base as a catalyst. The formed isomerically pure (imino ester)Pt(IV) complexes can be reduced selectively, by Ph(3)P=CHCO(2)Me, to the corresponding isomers of (imino ester)Pt(II) species, exhibiting antitumor activity, without change in configuration of the imino ester ligands. Furthemore, the imino esters NH=C(R)OR' can be liberated from both platinum(IV) and platinum(II) complexes [PtCl(n)[H=C(R)OR'](2)] (n = 2, 4) by reaction with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane and pyridine, respectively. All of the prepared compounds were characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N), FAB mass spectrometry, IR, and (1)H, (13)C[(1)H], and (195)Pt (metal complexes) NMR spectroscopies; the E and Z configurations of the imino ester ligands in solution were determined by observation of the nuclear Overhauser effect. X-ray structure determinations were performed for trans-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(Me)OEt](2)] (2), trans-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(Et)OEt](2)] (10), trans-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(Et)OPr-i](2)] (11), trans-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(Et)OPr-n](2)] (12), and cis-[PtCl(4)[(E)-NH=C(Et)OMe](2)] (14). Ab initio calculations have shown that the EE isomers are the most stable ones for both platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes, whereas the most stable configurations for the ZZ isomers are less stable than the respective EZ isomers, indicating an increase of the stability on moving from the ZZ to the EE configurations which is more pronounced for the Pt(IV) complexes than for the Pt(II) species.

X-ray structures of the first platinum complexes with Z configuration iminoether ligands: trans-dichlorobis(1-imino-1-methoxy-2,2'-dimethylpropane)platinum(II) and trans-tetrachlorobis(1-imino-1-methoxy-2,2'-dimethylpropane)platinum(IV)

Platinum complexes with Z configuration iminoether ligands (trans-[PtCl(2)(HN=C(OMe)Bu(t))(2)], 1, and trans-[PtCl(4)(HN=C(OMe)Bu(t))(2)], 2) have been structurally characterized for the first time. The nearly planar Pt-N-C-O-C chain, all atoms being in gauche conformation, brings the terminal Pt and C atoms very close to one another. The steric clash is released by considerably increasing the Pt-N-C, N-C-O, and C-O-C bond angles (133, 124, and 121 degrees for 1, respectively; 147, 129, and 127 degrees for 2, respectively), which are well above the expected values (120 degrees for Pt-N-C and N-C-O; less than 120 degrees for C-O-C owing to the repulsive effect exerted by the lone pair of electrons on the oxygen atom). In the platinum(II) case the smaller increase of bond angles is accompanied by a greater value of the Pt-N-C-O torsion angle (27.3 and 15.6 degrees for 1 and 2, respectively). The stabilization of the Z configuration, notwithstanding the steric clashes described above, has been achieved by a careful choice of the R substituent in the iminoether moiety (a bulky tert-butyl group). The reactions of the platinum(IV) species (2) in basic and acidic conditions and with triphenylphosphine have been investigated. Bases and acids both interact with the coordinated ligand in such a way to weaken the coordinative bond and promote the release of the iminoether ligands. The phosphine promotes a ready and complete reduction of the platinum(IV) complex to the corresponding platinum(II) species (1). Compound 1 reacts with a stoichiometric amount of phosphine (1:1 molar ratio) to form cis-[PtCl(2)(PPh(3))(Z-HN=C(OMe)Bu(t))] and with excess phosphine to form [PtCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)] and free iminoether. The latter two reactions leading to formation of a mixed phosphine/iminoether platinum species and to free iminoether, which can be used as a synthon for further organic transformations, can be of synthetic utility.

Activation of organonitriles toward beta-electrophilic attack. Synthesis and characterization of methyleneamide (azavinylidene) complexes of rhenium

Treatment of the nitrile complexes cis-[ReCl(NCR)(dppe)(2)] (R = aryl; dppe = Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2)) with [Et(2)OH][BF(4)] or SiMe(3)CF(3)SO(3) in CH(2)Cl(2) led to the formation of the methyleneamide (alkylideneamide or azavinylidene) compounds cis-[ReCl[NC(E)C(6)H(4)X-4](dppe)(2)]Y [E = H; X = OMe (1b), Me (1c), H (1d), F (1e), or Cl (1f), Y = BF(4); E = SiMe(3), X = Me (1c'), Y = CF(3)SO(3)] and trans-[ReCl[NC(H)C(6)H(4)X-4](dppe)(2)][BF(4)] [X = NEt(2) (2a), OMe (2b), H (2d), F (2e), or Cl (2f)]. They were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectrometry and X-ray crystallography (2e) which shows that the methyleneamide ligand exhibits linear (three-electron donor) geometry and behaves as a strong pi-electron acceptor. The complex (31)P[(1)H] and (1)H [NC(H)C(6)H(4)X-4] NMR patterns for the cis isomers were analyzed as ABCD and ABCDX (X part) spin systems, respectively. Complexes 1 and 2 undergo deprotonation by base to form the trans isomers of the corresponding nitrile complexes, trans-[ReCl(NCC(6)H(4)X-4)(dppe)(2)] [X = NEt(2) (3a), OMe (3b), H (3d), F (3e), or Cl (3f)] whose spectroscopic data are also presented and which on protonation give the corresponding trans isomers of the methyleneamide complexes (2). Reactions of cis-[ReCl(NCR)(dppe)(2)] with [Et(3)O][PF(6)] resulted in their oxidation and isomerization to afford trans-[ReCl(NCC(6)H(4)X-4)(dppe)(2)][PF(6)] [X = Me (4c), H (4d), or Cl (4f)].

Reduction of (imine)Pt(IV) to (imine)Pt(II) complexes with carbonyl-stabilized phosphorus ylides

A novel method is reported for generation of the difficult-to-obtain (imine)Pt(II) compounds that involves reduction of the corresponding readily available Pt(IV)-based imines by carbonyl-stabilized phosphorus ylides, Ph3P=CHCO2R, in nonaqueous media. The reaction between neutral (imino)Pt(IV) compounds [PtCl4[NH=C(Me)ON=CR1R2]2] [R1R2 = Me2, (CH2)4, (CH2)5, (Me)C(Me)=NOH], [PtCl4[NH=C(Me)ONR2]2] (R = Me, Et, CH2Ph), (R1 = H; R2 = Ph or C6H4Me; R3 = Me) as well as anionic-type platinum(IV) complexes (Ph3PCH2Ph)[PtCl5[NH=C(Me)ON=CR2]] [R2 = Me2, (CH2)4, (CH2)5] and 1 equiv of Ph3P=CHCO2R (R = Me, Et) proceeds under mild conditions (ca. 4 h, room temperature) to give selectively the platinum(II) products (in good to excellent isolated yields) without further reduction of the platinum center. All thus prepared compounds (excluding previously described Delta4-1,2,4-oxadiazoline complexes) were characterized by elemental analyses, FAB mass spectrometry, IR and 1H, 13C[1H], 31P[1H] and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray single-crystal diffractometry, the latter for [PtCl2[NH=C(Me)ON=CMe2]2] [crystal system tetragonal, space group P4(2)/n (No. 86), a = b = 10.5050(10) A, c = 15.916(3) A] and (Ph3PCH2CO2Me)[PtCl3(NCMe)] [crystal system orthorhombic, space group Pna2(1) (No. 33), a = 19.661(7) A, b = 12.486(4) A, c = 10.149(3) A]. The reaction is also extended to a variety of other Pt(II)/Pt(IV) couples, and the ylides Ph3P=CHCO2R are introduced as mild and selective reducing agents of wide applicability for the conversion of Pt(IV) to Pt(II) species in nonaqueous media, a route that is especially useful in the case of compounds that cannot be prepared directly from Pt(II) precursors, and for the generation of systematic series of Pt(II)/Pt(IV) complexes for biological studies.

Azametallacycles from Ag(I)- or Cu(II)-promoted coupling reactions of dialkylcyanamides with oximes at Pt(II)

The dialkylcyanamide complexes cis-[PtCl(NCNR(2))(PPh(3))(2)][BF(4)] 1 and cis-[Pt(NCNR(2))(2)(PPh(3))(2)][BF(4)](2) 2 (R = Me or Et) have been prepared by treatment of a CH(2)Cl(2) solution of cis-[PtCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)] with the appropriate dialkylcyanamide and one or two equivalents of Ag[BF(4)], respectively. Compounds 2 can also be obtained from 1 by a similar procedure. Their reaction with oximes, HON=CR'R' ' (R'R' ' = Me(2) or C(4)H(8)), in CH(2)Cl(2) and in the presence of Ag[BF(4)] or Cu(CH(3)COO)(2), leads to the novel type of azametallacycles cis-[Pt(NH=C(ON=CR'R")-NR2)(PPh3)2][BF4]2 4 upon an unprecedented coupling of the organocyanamides with oximes, in a process that proceeds via the mixed oxime-organocyanamide species cis-[Pt(NCNR(2))(HON=CR'R' ')(PPh(3))(2)][BF(4)](2) 3, and is catalyzed by either Ag(+) or Cu(2+) which activate the ligating organocyanamide by Lewis acid addition to the amide group. In contrast, in the organonitrile complexes cis-[Pt(NCR)(2)(PPh(3))(2)][BF(4)](2) 5 (R = C(6)H(4)OMe-4 or Et), obtained in a similar way as 2 (but by using NCR instead of the cyanamide), the ligating NCR is not activated by the Lewis acid and does not couple with the oximes. The spectroscopic properties of those complexes are reported along with the molecular structures of 2b (R = Et), 4a1 (R = Me, R'R' ' = Me(2)), and 4b1 (R = Et, R'R' ' = Me(2)), as established by X-ray crystallography which indicates that in the former complex the amide-N-atoms are trigonal planar, whereas in the latter (4a1 and 4b1) the five-membered rings are planar with a localized N=C double bond (imine group derived from the cyanamide) and the exocyclic amide and alkylidene groups (in 4b1) are involved in two intramolecular H-bonds to the oxygen atom of the ring.

[2 + 3] cycloaddition of nitrones to platinum-bound organonitriles: effect of metal oxidation state and of nitrile substituent

The ligated benzonitriles in the platinum(II) complex [PtCl2(PhCN)2] undergo metal-mediated [2 + 3] cycloaddition with nitrones -ON+(R3)=C(R1)(R2) [R1/R2/R3 = H/Ph/Me, H/p-MeC6H4/Me, H/Ph/CH2Ph] to give delta 4-1,2,4-oxadiazoline complexes, [PtCl2(N=C(Ph)O-N(R3)-C(R1)(R2))2] (2a, 4a, 6a), as a 1:1 mixture of two diastereoisomers, in 60-75% yields, while [PtCl2(MeCN)2] is inactive toward the addition. However, a strong activation of acetonitrile was reached by application of the platinum(IV) complex [PtCl4(MeCN)2] and both [PtCl4(RCN)2] (R = Me, Ph) react smoothly with various nitrones to give [PtCl4(N=C(R)O-N(R3)-C(R1)(R2))2] (1b-6b). The latter were reduced to the corresponding platinum(II) complexes [PtCl2(N=C(R)O-N(R3)-C(R1)(R2))2] (1a-6a) by treatment with PhCH2NHOH, while the reverse reaction, i.e. conversion of 1a-6a to 1b-6b, was achieved by chlorination with Cl2. The diastereoisomers of [PtCl2(N=C(R)O-N(R3)-C(R1)(R2))2] (1a-6a) exhibit different kinetic labilities, and liberation of the delta 4-1,2,4-oxadiazolines by substitution with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) in CDCl3 proceeds at different reaction rates to give free N=C(R)O-N(R3)-C(R1)(R2) and [PtCl2(dppe)] in almost quantitative NMR yield. All prepared compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, FAB mass spectrometry, and IR and 1H, 13C(1H), and 195Pt (metal complexes) NMR spectroscopies; X-ray structure determination of the first (delta 4-1,2,4-oxadiazoline)Pt(II) complexes was performed for (S,S)/(R,R)-rac-[PtCl2(N=C(Me)O-N(Me)-C(H)Ph)2] (1a) (a = 9.3562(4), b = 9.8046(3), c = 13.1146(5) A; alpha = 76.155(2), beta = 83.421(2), gamma = 73.285(2) degrees; V = 1117.39(7) A3; triclinic, P1, Z = 2), (R,S)-meso-[PtCl2(N=C(Ph)O-N(Me)-C(H)Ph)2] (2a) (a = 8.9689(9), b = 9.1365(5), c = 10.1846(10) A; alpha = 64.328(6), beta = 72.532(4), gamma = 67.744(6) degrees; V = 686.82(11) A3; triclinic, P1, Z = 1), (S,S)/(R,R)-rac-[PtCl2(N=C(Me)O-N(Me)-C(H)(p-C6H4Me))2] (3a) (a = 11.6378(2), b = 19.0767(7), c = 11.5782(4) A; beta = 111.062(2) degrees; V = 2398.76(13) A3; monoclinic, P2(1)/c, Z = 4), and (S,S)/(R,R)-rac-[PtCl2(N=C(Me)O-N(CH2Ph)-C(H)Ph2] (5a) (a = 10.664(2), b = 10.879(2), c = 14.388(3) A; alpha = 73.11(3), beta = 78.30(3), gamma = 88.88(3) degrees; V = 1562.6(6) A3; triclinic, P1, Z = 2).

Iminoacylation. 3. Formation of platinum(IV)-based metallaligands due to facile one-end addition of vic-dioximes to coordinated organonitriles

The reaction of vic-dioximes with the organonitrile platinum(IV) complexes trans-[PtCl4(RCN)2] (R = Me, CH2Ph, Ph, vic-dioxime = dimethylglyoxime; R = Me, vic-dioxime = cyclohexa-, cyclohepta-, and cyclooctanedione dioximes) proceeds rapidly under relatively mild conditions and affords products of one-end addition of the dioximes to the nitrile carbon, i.e. [PtC4(NH=C(R)ON=[spacer]=NOH)2] (1-6) (R = Me, CH2Ph, Ph, spacer = C(Me)C-(Me) for dimethylglyoxime; R = Me, spacer = C[C4H8]C, C[C5H10]C, C[C6H12]C for the other dioximes), giving a novel type of metallaligand. All addition compounds were characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N, C1, Pt), FAB mass spectrometry, and IR and 1H, 13C[1H], and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. X-ray structure determination of the dimethylformamide bis-solvate [PtCl4(NH=C(Me)ON=C(Me)C(Me)=NOH)2] x 2DMF (la) disclosed its overall trans geometry with the dimethylglyoxime part in anti configuration and the amidine one-end (rather than N,N-bidentate) coordination mode of the N-donor ligands. When a mixture of cis- and trans-[PtC4(MeCN)2] in MeCN was treated with dimethylglyoxime, the formation of, correspondingly, cis- and trans-[PtCl4(NH=C(Me)ON=C(Me)C(Me)=NOH)2] (1) was observed and cis-to-trans isomerization in DMSO-d6 solution was monitored by 1H, 2D [1H,15N] HMQC, and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies. Although performed ab initio calculations give evidence that the trans geometry is the favorable one for the iminoacylated species [PtCl4-(ligand)2], the platinum(IV) complex [PtCl4(NH=C(Me)ON=C[C4Hs]C=NOH)2] (4) was isolated exclusively in cis configuration with the two metallaligand "arms" held together by intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the two peripheral OH groups, as it was proved by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The classic substitution products, e.g. [PtC12(N,N-dioximato)2] (12-15), are formed in the addition reaction as only byproducts in minor yield; two of them, [PtCl2(C7H11N2O2)2] (14) and [PtCl2(C8H13N2O2)2] (15), were structurally characterized. Complexes (12-15) were also prepared by reaction of the vic-dioximes with [PtCl4L(Me2SO)] (L = Me2SO, MeCN), but monoximes (Me2C=NOH, [C4H8]C=NOH, [C5H10]C=NOH, PhC(H)=NOH, (OH)C6H4C(H)= NOH) react differently adding to [PtCl4(MeCN)(Me2SO)] to give the corresponding iminoacylated products [PtCl4(NH=C(Me)ON=CRR')(Me2SO)](7-11).

Mono- and Trinuclear Nickel(II) Complexes with Sulfur-Containing Oxime Ligands: Uncommon Templated Coupling of Oxime with Nitrile

4,7-Dithiadecane-2,9-dione dioxime forms both violet and purple-black nickel(II) complexes with unexpected structural properties, quite unlike the square-planar chelates formed by its dithiaundecane homologue. Their perchlorate salts were isolated and examined crystallographically. The lilac product [Ni{(Dtox)(CH(3)CNH)(2)}](ClO(4))(2) entails a bis(iminoether) ligand formed by coupling of the dioxime with two moles of acetonitrile. The purple-black complex results from further ligand deprotonation, to yield trinuclear, antiferromagnetic [Ni(3)(Dtox)(DtoxH)(2)](ClO(4))(2).CH(3)CN, which maintains its structure in solution. The first one-electron electrochemical oxidation step is relatively facile for the trimer, yielding a Ni(2)(II)Ni(III) complex, whereas for [Ni{(Dtox)(CH(3)CNH)(2)}](ClO(4))(2) a transient Ni(I) species is accessible. Comment is made on those properties (coordination number, donor type, core charge) of nickel(II) coordination spheres that affect the accessibility of the corresponding nickel(I) and nickel(III) forms. [Ni(3)(Dtox)(DtoxH)(2)](ClO(4))(2).CH(3)CN crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, with cell parameters a = 12.295(2) Å, b = 17.360(2) Å, c = 20.764(2) Å, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 94.080(10) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, V = 4420.7(6) Å(3), Z = 4. [Ni{(Dtox)(CH(3)CNH)(2)}](ClO(4))(2) crystallizes in the rhombohedral space group R&thremacr;, with cell parameters a = 32.954(2) Å, b = 32.954(2) Å, c = 13.477(2) Å, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees, Z = 18.