Nonheme binuclear transition metal complexes with hydrosulfide and polychalcogenides

The intriguing chemistry of chalcogen (S, Se)-containing ligands and their capability to bridge multiple metal centres have resulted in a plethora of reports on transition metal complexes featuring hydrosulfide (HS-) and polychalcogenides (En2-, E = S, Se). While a large number of such molecules are strictly organometallic complexes, examples of non-organometallic complexes featuring HS- and En2- with N-/O-donor ligands are relatively rare. The general synthetic procedure for the transition metal-hydrosulfido complexes involves the reaction of the corresponding metal salts with HS-/H2S and this is prone to generate sulfido bridged oligomers in the absence of sterically demanding ligands. On the other hand, the synthetic methods for the preparation of transition metal-polychalcogenido complexes include the reaction of the corresponding metal salts with En2- or the two electron oxidation of low-valent metals with elemental chalcogen, often at an elevated temperature and/or for a long time. Recently, we have developed new synthetic methods for the preparation of two new classes of binuclear transition metal complexes featuring either HS-, or Sn2- and Sen2- ligands. The new method for the synthesis of transition metal-hydrosulfido complexes involved transition metal-mediated hydrolysis of thiolates at room temperature (RT), while the method for the synthesis of transition metal-polychalcogenido complexes involved redox reaction of coordinated thiolates and exogenous elemental chalcogens at RT. An overview of the synthetic aspects, structural properties and intriguing reactivity of these two new classes of transition metal complexes is presented.

Generation and Reactivity of Polychalcogenide Chains in Binuclear Cobalt(II) Complexes

A series of six binuclear Co(II)-thiolate complexes, [Co2(BPMP)(S-C6H4-o-X)2]1+ (X = OMe, 2; NH2, 3), [Co2(BPMP)(μ-S-C6H4-o-O)]1+ (4), and [Co2(BPMP)(μ-Y)]1+ (Y = bdt, 5; tdt, 6; mnt, 7), has been synthesized from [Co2(BPMP)(MeOH)2(Cl)2]1+ (1a) and [Co2(BPMP)(Cl)2]1+ (1b), where BPMP1- is the anion of 2,6-bis[[bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]methyl]-4-methylphenol. While 2 and 3 could allow the two-electron redox reaction of the two coordinated thiolates with elemental sulfur (S8) to generate [Co2(BPMP)(μ-S5)]1+ (8), the complexes, 4-7, could not undergo a similar reaction. An analogous redox reaction of 2 with elemental selenium ([Se]) produced [{Co2(BPMP)(μ-Se4)}{Co2(BPMP)(μ-Se3)}]2+ (9a) and [Co2(BPMP)(μ-Se4)]1+ (9b). Further reaction of these polychalcogenido complexes, 8 and 9a/9b, with PPh3 allowed the isolation of [Co2(BPMP)(μ-S)]1+ (10) and [Co2(BPMP)(μ-Se2)]1+ (11), which, in turn, could be converted back to 8 and 9a upon treatment with S8 and [Se], respectively. Interestingly, while the redox reaction of the polyselenide chains in 9a and 11 with S8 produced 8 and [Se], the treatment of 8 with [Se] gave back only the starting material (8), thus demonstrating the different redox behavior of sulfur and selenium. Furthermore, the reaction of 8 and 9a/9b with activated alkynes and cyanide (CN-) allowed the isolation of the complexes, [Co2(BPMP)(μ-E2C2(CO2R)2)]1+ (E = S: 12a, R = Me; 12b, R = Et; E = Se: 13a, R = Me; 13b, R = Et) and [Co2(BPMP)(μ-SH)(NCS)2] (14), respectively. The present work, thus, provides an interesting synthetic strategy, interconversions, and detailed comparative reactivity of binuclear Co(II)-polychalcogenido complexes.

Tuning Selectivity in the Visible-Light-Promoted Coupling of Thiols with Alkenes by EDA vs TOCO Complex Formation

The visible-light-promoted catalyst-free condition has been demonstrated for self- and cross-coupling reactions of thiols in an ambient atmosphere. Further, synthesis of β-hydroxysulfides is accomplished under very mild conditions involving the formation of an electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex between a disulfide and an alkene. However, the direct reaction of thiol with alkene via the formation of a thiol-oxygen co-oxidation (TOCO) complex failed to produce the desired compounds in high yields. The protocol was successful with several aryl and alkyl thiols for the formation of disulfides. However, the formation of β-hydroxysulfides required an aromatic unit on the disulfide fragment, which supports the formation of the EDA complex during the course of the reaction. The approaches presented in this paper for the coupling reaction of thiols and the synthesis of β-hydroxysulfides are unique and do not require toxic organic or metal catalysts.

3-Methyl-1-phenyl-4-thioacetylpyrazol-5-one

The novel compound 3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-thioacetylpyrazol-5-one is obtained in excellent yield via a thionation of the corresponding oxygen analogue. The product is isolated in pure form using column chromatography and is characterised using 1D and 2D NMR experiments, ATR IR and HRMS spectra, and single-crystal XRD.

Polysulfido Chain in Binuclear Zinc(II) Complexes

The synthesis and a detailed reactivity study of a binuclear zinc(II) bis(benzenethiolate) complex, [Zn₂(BPMP)(SPh)₂]⁺ (4), and an unprecedented binuclear zinc(II) pentasulfido complex, [Zn₂(BPMP)(μ₂-S₅)]⁺ (6), are presented. While one-electron oxidation of the coordinated benzenethiolate ligands in 4 by Cp₂Fe⁺ produces diphenyl disulfide and [Zn₂(BPMP)(μ₂-OH)]²⁺ (5), a two-electron redox reaction between coordinated benzenethiolate ligands in 4 and elemental S (S₈) generated diphenyl disulfide and the binuclear zinc(II) pentasulfido complex 6. Complex 6 features a chelating, dianionic, pentasulfido (S₅^2-) chain and can consume up to a maximum of 3 equiv of PPh₃ to generate Ph₃PS and 5, while the reaction of 6 with 1 equiv of diphenylphosphinoethane allowed the isolation of [Zn₂(BPMP)(μ₂-S₄)]⁺ (7). A proteolysis reaction of the coordinated S₅^2- chain in 6 with fluoroboric acid (HBF₄), benzoic acid (PhCOOH), and thioacetic acid (MeCOSH) generates the complexes [Zn₂(BPMP)(MeCN)₂]³⁺ (1), [Zn₂(BPMP)(μ₂-PhCOO)₂]⁺ (8), and [Zn₂(BPMP)(μ₂-SCOMe)₂]⁺ (9), respectively, while the protonated S₅^2- chain liberates S₈ and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). Finally, the transfer of the coordinated benzenethiolate ligands in 4 and the S₅^2- chain in 6 to selected organic compounds, namely, PhCH₂Br and PhC(O)Cl, for the generation of various organosulfur compounds is demonstrated.

Molecular Design of Cyclopentadienyl Tantalum Sulfide Complexes

Use of (Me₃Si)₂S and [Ta(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Cl₄] (1) in a 4:3 ratio afforded the trimetallic sulfide cluster [Ta₃(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₃Cl₃(μ₃-Cl)(μ-S)₃(μ₃-S)] (2) with loss of SiClMe₃. A similar reaction between 1, TaCl₅, and (Me₃Si)₂S in a 2:1:4 ratio resulted in the analogous complex [Ta₃(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂Cl₄(μ₃-Cl)(μ-S)₃(μ₃-S)] (3). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of 2 and 3 showed in all cases trinuclear tantalum sulfide clusters. On the other hand, thermal treatment of 2 with SiH₃Ph generated very cleanly the dinuclear tantalum(IV) sulfide complex [Ta₂(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂Cl₂(μ-S)₂] (4) in a quantitative way. Likewise, we found that 4 was synthesized more easily by a one-pot reaction of 1, (Me₃Si)₂S, and SiH₃Ph in toluene. Reactions of 4 with a series of alkylating reagents rendered the dinuclear peralkylated sulfide complexes [Ta₂(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂R₂(μ-S)₂] (R = Me 5, Et 6, CH₂SiMe₃ 7, C₃H₅ 8, Ph 9). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of 4, 5, and 9 showed in all cases a trans disposition of the chloro or alkyl substituents. The short Ta-Ta distances (2.918(1)-2.951(1) Å) along with DFT calculations indicate a σ-Ta-Ta interaction. Complexes 5, 6, and 8 undergo trans- cis isomerization, and mechanistic proposals are discussed based on DFT calculations.

Chalcogen stabilized trimetallic clusters: synthesis, structures, and bonding of [(Cp*M)3(E)6+m(BH)n] (M = Nb or Ta; E = S or Se; m = 0 or 1 or 2; n = 0 or 1)

An unusual trimetallic octaselenide complex, [(Cp*Ta)₃(μ-Se)₄{μ-Se₂(Se₂)}], has been synthesized and structurally characterized.

Reactivity studies on [Cp'Fe(μ-I)]2: nitrido-, sulfido- and diselenide iron complexes derived from pseudohalide activation

Facile pseudohalide activation occurs in the reaction of SCN^–, SeCN^– and N₃^– with the iron half-sandwich [Cp′Fe(μ-I)]₂.

The iron half-sandwich [Cp′Fe(μ-I)]₂ (Cp′ = 1,2,4-(Me₃C)₃C₅H₂, 1) reacts with the pseudohalides NCO^–, SCN^–, SeCN^– and N₃^– to give [Cp′Fe(μ-NCO)]₂ (2), [Cp′Fe(μ-S)]₂ (3), [Cp′Fe(μ-Se₂)]₂ (4) and [Cp′Fe(μ-N)]₂ (5), respectively. Various spectroscopic techniques including X-ray diffraction, solid-state magnetic susceptibility studies and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy were employed in the characterization of these species. Mössbauer spectroscopy shows a decreasing isomer shift with increasing formal oxidation state, ranging from Fe(ii) to Fe(iv), in complexes 1 to 5. The sulfido-bridged dimer 3 exhibits strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the Fe(iii) centers. This leads to temperature-independent paramagnetism (TIP) at low temperature, from which the energy gap between the ground and the excited state can be estimated to be 2J = ca. 700 cm^–1. The iron(iv) nitrido complex [Cp′Fe(μ-N)]₂ (5) shows no reactivity towards H₂ (10 atm), but undergoes clean reactions with CO (5 bar) and XylNC (Xyl = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) to form the diamagnetic isocyanate and carbodiimide complexes [Cp′Fe(CO)₂(NCO)] (7) and [Cp′Fe(CNXyl)₂(NCNXyl)] (8), respectively. All compounds were fully characterized, and density functional theory (DFT) computations provide useful insights into their formation and the electronic structures of complexes 3 and 5.

Low temperature in situ synthesis and the formation mechanism of various carbon-encapsulated nanocrystals by the electrophilic oxidation of metallocene complexes

The core-shell nanostructures have the advantages of combining distinctive properties of varied materials and improved properties over their single-component counterparts. Synthesis approaches for this class of nanostructures have been intensively explored, generally involving multiple steps. Here, a general and convenient strategy is developed for one-step in situ synthesis of various carbon-encapsulated nanocrystals with a core-shell structure via a solid-state reaction of metallocene complexes with (NH4)2S2O8 in an autoclave at 200 °C. A variety of near-spherical and equiaxed nanocrystals with a small median size ranging from 6.5 to 50.6 nm are prepared as inner cores, including Fe7S8, Ni3S4 and NiS, CoS, TiO2, TiO2 and S8, ZrO2, (NH4)3V(SO4)3 and VO2, Fe7S8 and Fe3O4, MoS2 and MoO2. The worm-like carbon shell provides exclusive room for hundreds of nanocrystals separated from each other, preventing nanocrystal aggregation. The synergistic effect of ammonium and a strong oxidizing anion on the electrophilic oxidation of metallocene complexes containing a metal-ligand π bond contributes to the carbon formation at low temperature. It is considered that the cyclopentadienyl ligand in a metallocene complex will decompose into highly reactive straight chain olefinic pieces and the metal-olefin π interaction enables an ordered self-assembly of olefinic pieces on nanocrystals to partially form graphitizable carbon and a core-shell structure. The high capacity, good cycling behavior and rate capability of Fe7S8@C and Ni3S4 and NiS@C electrodes are attributed to the good protection and electrical conductivity of the carbon shell.

Novel Nucleophilic Reactivity of Disulfido Ligands Coordinated Parallel to M−M (M = Rh, Ir) Bonds

Reaction of trans-[(MCp)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2)Cl(2)] (M = Rh, Ir; Cp = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) with Li(2)S(2) afforded the disulfido complexes [(MCp)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2)(mu-S(2)-S:S')] which were easily oxidized by O(2) to give the oxygenated complexes [(MCp)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2)(mu-SSO(2)-S:S')]. Although [(RhCp)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2)(mu-S(2)-S:S')] gave a complicated mixture when reacted with CH(2)Cl(2) or CHCl(3), [(IrCp)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2)(mu-S(2)-S:S')] reacted with both CH(2)Cl(2) and CHCl(3) to give the dithioformato complex [(IrCp)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2)(mu-S(2)CH-S:S')]Cl and the cyclotetrasulfido complex [((IrCp)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2))(2)(mu-S(4)-S:S':S":S"')]Cl(2). The oxygenated complexes [(RhCp)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2)(mu-SSO(2)-S:S')] reacted with hydrocarbyl halides to afford bridging hydrocarbyl thiolato complexes accompanied by the generation of SO(2) gas. These complexes have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, and X-ray diffraction.

Nickel−Manganese Sulfido Carbonyl Cluster Complexes. Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of the Unusual Paramagnetic Complexes Cp2Ni2Mn(CO)3(μ3-E)2, E = S, Se

The reaction of Mn(2)(CO)(7)(mu-S(2)) with [CpNi(CO)](2) yielded the paramagnetic new compound Cp(2)Ni(2)Mn(CO)(3)(mu(3)-S)(2) (1) and a new hexanuclear metal product Cp(2)Ni(2)Mn(4)(CO)(14)(mu(6)-S(2))(mu(3)-S)(2) (2). Structurally, compound 1 contains two triply bridging sulfido ligands on opposite sides of an open Ni(2)Mn triangular cluster. EPR and temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 show that it contains one unpaired electron. The electronic structure of 1 was determined by Fenske-Hall molecular orbital calculations which show that the unpaired electron occupies a low lying antibonding orbital delocalized unequally across the three metal atoms. The selenium homologue Cp(2)Ni(2)Mn(CO)(3)(mu(3)-Se)(2) (3) was obtained from the reaction of a mixture of Mn(2)(CO)(10) and [CpNi(CO)](2) with elemental selenium and Me(3)NO.2H(2)O. It also has one unpaired electron. Compound 1 reacted with elemental sulfur to yield the dinickeldimanganese compound, Cp(2)Ni(2)Mn(2)(CO)(6)(mu(4)-S(2))(mu(4)-S(5)), 4, which can also be made from the reaction of Mn(2)(CO)(7)(mu-S(2)) with [CpNi(CO)](2) and sulfur. Compound 4 was converted back to 1 by sulfur abstraction using PPh(3). The reaction of Mn(2)(CO)(10) with [CpNi(CO)](2) in the presence of thiirane yielded the ethanedithiolato compound CpNiMn(CO)(3)(mu-SCH(2)CH(2)S) (5), which was also obtained from the reaction of Mn(4)(CO)(15)(mu(3)-S(2))(mu(4)-S(2)) with [CpNi(CO)](2) in the presence of thiirane. Compound 5 reacted with additional quantities of thiirane to yield the new compound CpNiMn(CO)(3)[mu-S(CH(2)CH(2)S)(2)], 6, which contains a 3-thiapentanedithiolato ligand that bridges the two metal atoms. Compound 6 was also obtained from the reaction of Mn(2)(CO)(10) with [CpNi(CO)](2) and thiirane. The molecular structures of the new compounds 1-6 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.

Syntheses and Reactivity of the Diselenido Molybdenum−Manganese Complex CpMoMn(CO)5(μ-Se2)

Reaction of CpMoMn(CO)(8) with elemental selenium and Me(3)NO in the absence of light yielded the diselenido complex CpMoMn(CO)(5)(mu-Se(2)), 2. Compound 2 contains a bridging diselenido ligand lying perpendicular to the Mo-Mn bond, Mo-Mn = 2.8421(10) A. In the presence of room light, the reaction yielded the tetranuclear metal complex Cp(2)Mo(2)Mn(2)(CO)(7)(mu(3)-Se)(4), 3 (36% yield), and 2 (7% yield). Compound 2 reacted with ethylene to yield the ethanediselenato complex CpMoMn(CO)(5)(mu-SeCH(2)CH(2)Se), 4, by insertion of ethylene into the Se-Se bond. Compound 2 also reacted with (PPh(3))(2)Pt(PhC(2)Ph) and CpCo(CO)(2) to yield the complexes CpMoMnPt(PPh(3))(2)(CO)(5)(mu(3)-Se)(2), 5, and Cp(2)CoMoMn(CO)(5)(mu(3)-Se)(2), 6, respectively, by insertion of the metal groupings CpCo and Pt(PPh(3))(2) into the Se-Se bond of 2. The oxo compound Cp(2)CoMo(O)Mn(CO)(5)(mu(3)-Se)(2), 7, was obtained from 6 by decarbonylation at molybdenum by using Me(3)NO. The molecular structures of the complexes 2-7 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.

New disulfido molybdenum-manganese complexes exhibit facile addition of small molecules to the sulfur atoms

The reaction of Mn(2)(CO)(7)(mu-S2) (1) with [CpMo(CO)(3)](2) (Cp = C(5)H(5)) and [Cp*Mo(CO)(3)](2) (Cp* = C(5)(CH(3))(5)) yielded the new mixed-metal disulfide complexes CpMoMn(CO)(5)(mu-S2) (2) and Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)(mu-S2) (3) by a metal-metal exchange reaction. Compounds 2 and 3 both contain a bridging disulfido ligand lying perpendicular to the Mo-Mn bond. The bond distances are Mo-Mn = 2.8421(10) and 2.8914(5) A and S-S = 2.042(2) and 1.9973(10) A for 2 and 3, respectively. A tetranuclear metal side product CpMoMn(3)(CO)(13)(mu3-S)(mu4-S) (4) was also isolated from the reaction of 1 with [CpMo(CO)(3)](2). Compounds 2 and 3 react with CO to yield the dithiocarbonato complexes CpMoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SC(=O)S] (5) and Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SC(=O)S] (6) by insertion of CO into the S-S bond. Similarly, tert-butylisocyanide was inserted into the S-S bond of 2 and 3 to yield the complexes CpMoMn(CO)(5)[mu-S(C=NBu(t))S] (7) and Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)[mu-S(C=NBu(t))S] (8), respectively. Ethylene and dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate also inserted into the S-S bond of 2 and 3 at room temperature to yield the ethanedithiolato ligand bridged complexes CpMoMn(CO)(5)(mu-SCH(2)CH(2)S) (9), Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)(mu-SCH(2)CH(2)S) (10), CpMoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SC(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me)S] (11), and Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SC(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me)S] (12). Allene was found to insert into the S-S bond of 2 by using one of its two double bonds to yield the complex CpMoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SCH(2)C(=CH(2))S] (13). The molecular structures of the new complexes 2-7 and 9-13 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.