Synthesis and characterization of new rhodium–cobalt mixed-metal octahedral linked clusters containing η2-diyne ligands

Site Selectivity in the Reactions of the Hexanuclear Platinum Cluster [Pt6(μ-PtBu2)4(CO)6][CF3SO3]2

The previously reported hexanuclear cluster [Pt(6)(mu-PtBu(2))(4)(CO)(6)](2+)[Y](2) (1-Y(2): Y=CF(3)SO(3) (-)) contains a central Pt(4) tetrahedron bridged at each of the opposite edges by another platinum atom; in turn, four phosphido ligands bridge the four Pt-Pt bonds not involved in the tetrahedron, and, finally, one carbonyl ligand is terminally bonded to each metal centre. Interestingly, the two outer carbonyls are more easily substituted or attacked by nucleophiles than the inner four, which are bonded to the tetrahedron vertices. In fact, the reaction of 1-Y(2) with 1 equiv of [nBu(4)N]Cl or with an excess of halide salts gives the monochloride [Pt(6)(mu-PtBu(2))(4)(CO)(5)Cl](+)[Y], 2-Y, or the neutral dihalide derivatives [Pt(6)(mu-PtBu(2))(4)(CO)(4)X(2)] (3: X=Cl; 4: X=Br; 5: X=I). Moreover, the useful unsymmetrically substituted [Pt(6)(mu-PtBu(2))(4)(CO)(4)ICl] (6) was obtained by reacting equimolar amounts of 2 and [nBu(4)N]I, and the dicationic derivatives [Pt(6)(mu-PtBu(2))(4)(CO)(4)L(2)](2+)[Y](2) (7-Y(2): L=(13)CO; 8-Y(2): L=CNtBu; 9-Y(2): L=PMe(3)) were obtained by reaction of an excess of the ligand L with 1-Y(2). Weaker nitrogen ligands were introduced by dissolving the dichloride 3 in acetonitrile or pyridyne in the presence of TlPF(6) to afford [Pt(6)(mu-PtBu(2))(4) (CO)(4)L(2)](2+)[Z](2) (Z=PF(6) (-), 10-Z(2): L=MeCN; 11-Z(2): L=Py). The "apical" carbonyls in 1-Y(2) are also prone to nucleophilic addition (Nu(-): H(-), MeO(-)) affording the acyl derivatives [Pt(6)(mu-PtBu(2))(4)(CO)(4)(CONu)(2)] (12: Nu=H; 13: Nu=OMe). Complex 12 is slowly converted into the dihydride [Pt(6)(mu-PtBu(2))(4)(CO)(4)H(2)] (14), which was more cleanly prepared by reacting 3 with NaBH(4). In a unique case we observed a reaction involving also the inner carbonyls of complex 1, that is, in the reaction with a large excess of the isocyanides R-NC, which form the corresponding persubstituted derivatives [Pt(6)(mu-tPBu(2))(4)(CN-R)(6)](2+)[Y](2), (15-Y(2): R=tBu; 16-Y(2) (2-): R=-C(6)H(4)-4-C triple bond CH). All complexes were characterized by microanalysis, IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The crystal and molecular structures of complexes 3, 5, 6 and 9-Y(2) are also reported. From the redox viewpoint, all complexes display two reversible one-electron reduction steps, the location of which depends both upon the electronic effects of the substituents, and the overall charge of the original complex.

Formation and Characterization of the Hexanuclear Platinum Cluster [Pt6(μ-PBut2)4(CO)6](CF3SO3)2 through Structural, Electrochemical, and Computational Analyses

The reaction between equimolar amounts of Pt(3)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(3)(H)(CO)(2), Pt(3)()H, and CF(3)SO(3)H under CO atmosphere affords the triangular species [Pt(3)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(3)(CO)(3)]X, [Pt(3)()(CO)(3)()(+)()]X (X = CF(3)SO(3)(-)), characterized by X-ray crystallography, or in an excess of acid, [Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(6)]X(2), [Pt(6)()(2+)()]X(2)(). Structural determination shows the latter to be a rare hexanuclear cluster with a Pt(4) tetrahedral core formed by joining the unbridged sides of two orthogonal Pt(3) triangles. The dication Pt(6)()(2+)() features also extensive redox properties as it undergoes two reversible one-electron reductions to the congeners [Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(6)](+) (Pt(6)()(+)(), E(1/2) = -0.27 V) and Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(6) (Pt(6)(), E(1/2) = -0.54 V) and a further quasi-reversible two-electron reduction to the unstable dianion Pt(6)()(2)()(-)() (E(1/2) = -1.72 V). The stable radical (Pt(6)()(+)()) and diamagnetic (Pt(6)()) species are also formed via chemical methods by using 1 or 2 equiv of Cp(2)Co, respectively; further reduction of Pt(6)()(2+)() causes fast decomposition. The chloride derivatives [Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(5)Cl]X, (Pt(6)()Cl(+)())X, and Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(4)Cl(2), Pt(6)()Cl(2)(), observed as side-products in some electrochemical experiments, were prepared independently. The reaction leading to Pt(3)()(CO)(3)()(+)() has been analyzed with DFT methods, and identification of key intermediates allows outlining the reaction mechanism. Moreover, calculations for the whole series Pt(6)()(2+)() --> Pt(6)()(2)()(-)()( )()afford the otherwise unknown structures of the reduced derivatives. While the primary geometry is maintained by increasing electron population, the system undergoes progressive and concerted out-of-plane rotation of the four phosphido bridges (from D(2)(d)() to D(2) symmetry). The bonding at the central Pt(4) tetrahedron of the hexanuclear clusters (an example of 4c-2e(-) inorganic tetrahedral aromaticity in Pt(6)()(2+)()) is explained in simple MO terms.