Reactions of metal-disulfur complexes with nucleophiles and electrophiles

[MoO(S2)2L]1- (L = picolinate or pyrimidine-2-carboxylate) Complexes as MoSx-Inspired Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Production in Aqueous Solution

Crystalline and amorphous molybdenum sulfide (Mo-S) catalysts are leaders as earth-abundant materials for electrocatalytic hydrogen production. The development of a molecular motif inspired by the Mo-S catalytic materials and their active sites is of interest, as molecular species possess a great degree of tunable electronic properties. Furthermore, these molecular mimics may be important for providing mechanistic insights toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with Mo-S electrocatalysts. Herein is presented two water-soluble Mo-S complexes based around the [MoO(S₂)₂L₂]^1- motif. We present ¹H NMR spectra that reveal (NEt₄)[MoO(S₂)₂picolinate] (Mo-pic) is stable in a d₆-DMSO solution after heating at 100 °C, in air, revealing unprecedented thermal and aerobic stability of the homogeneous electrocatalyst. Both Mo-pic and (NEt₄)[MoO(S₂)₂pyrimidine-2-carboxylate] (Mo-pym) are shown to be homogeneous electrocatalysts for the HER. The TOF of 27-34 s^-1 and 42-48 s^-1 for Mo-pic and Mo-pym and onset potentials of 240 mV and 175 mV for Mo-pic and Mo-pym, respectively, reveal these complexes as promising electrocatalysts for the HER.

Copper(I)/S8 Reversible Reactions Leading to an End-On Bound Dicopper(II) Disulfide Complex: Nucleophilic Reactivity and Analogies to Copper−Dioxygen Chemistry

Elemental sulfur (S8) reacts reversibly with the copper(I) complex [(TMPA')CuI](+) (1), where TMPA' is a TMPA (tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) analogue with a 6-CH2OCH3 substituent on one pyridyl ligand arm, affording a spectroscopically pure end-on bound disulfido-dicopper(II) complex [{(TMPA')Cu(II)}2(mu-1,2-S2(2-))](2+) (2) {nu(S-S) = 492 cm(-1); nu(Cu-S)sym = 309 cm(-1)}; by contrast, [(TMPA)Cu(I)(CH3CN)](+) (3)/S8 chemistry produces an equilibrium mixture of at least three complexes. The reaction of excess PPh3 with 2 leads to formal "release" of zerovalent sulfur and reduction of copper ion to give the corresponding complex [(TMPA')Cu(I)(PPh3)](+) (11) along with S=PPh3 as products. Dioxygen displaces the disulfur moiety from 2 to produce the end-on Cu2O2 complex, [{(TMPA')Cu(II)}2(mu-1,2-O2(2-)](2+) (9). Addition of the tetradentate ligand TMPA to 2 generates the apparently more thermodynamically stable [{(TMPA)Cu(II)}2(mu-1,2-S2(2-))](2+) (4) and expected mixture of other species. Bubbling 2 with CO leads to the formation of the carbonyl adduct [(TMPA')CuI(CO)](+) (8). Carbonylation/sulfur-release/CO-removal cycles can be repeated several times. Sulfur atom transfer from 2 also occurs in a near quantitative manner when it is treated with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide (ArNC), leading to the corresponding isothiocyanate (ArNCS) and [(TMPA')Cu(I)(CNAr)](+) (12). Complex 2 readily reacts with PhCH2Br: [{(TMPA')Cu(II)}2(mu-1,2-S(2)(2-)](2+) (2) + 2 PhCH2Br --> [{(TMPA')Cu(II)(Br)}2](2+) (6) + PhCH2SSCH2Ph. The unprecedented substrate reactivity studies reveal that end-on bound mu-1,2-disulfide-dicopper(II) complex 2 provides a nucleophilic S2(2-) moiety, in striking contrast to the electrophilic behavior of a recently described side-on bound mu-eta(2):eta(2)-disulfido-dicopper(II) complex, [{(N3)Cu(II)}(2)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)-S2(2-))](2+) (5) with tridentate N3 ligand. The investigation thus reveals striking analogies of copper/sulfur and copper/dioxygen chemistries, with regard to structure type formation and specific substrate reactivity patterns.

Direct synthesis of isothiocyanates from isonitriles by molybdenum-catalyzed sulfur transfer with elemental sulfur

The direct molybdenum-catalyzed sulfuration of a variety of isonitriles with elemental sulfur or propene sulfide as sulfur donors affords the corresponding isothiocyanates in good yields and under mild reaction conditions. A catalytic cycle is suggested, in which the molybdenum oxo disulfur complex operates as the active sulfur-transferring species. A novel adduct between the isonitrile and the molybdenum complex has been characterized by X-ray analysis and its association constant determined by UV-vis spectroscopy, but this adduct appears not to be involved in the sulfur-transfer process.

Enhancing reactivity via structural distortion

To examine how small structural changes influence the reactivity and magnetic properties of biologically relevant metal complexes, the reactivity and magnetic properties of two structurally related five-coordinate Fe(III) thiolate compounds are compared. (Et,Pr)-ligated [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))]PF(6) (3) is synthesized via the abstraction of a sulfur from alkyl persulfide ligated [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))-S(pers)]PF(6) (2) using PEt(3). (Et,Pr)-3 is structurally related to (Pr,Pr)-ligated [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))]PF(6) (1), a nitrile hydratase model compound previously reported by our group, except it contains one fewer methylene unit in its ligand backbone. Removal of this methylene distorts the geometry, opens a S-Fe-N angle by approximately 10 degrees, alters the magnetic properties by stabilizing the S = 1/2 state relative to the S = 3/2 state, and increases reactivity. Reactivity differences between 3 and 1 were assessed by comparing the thermodynamics and kinetics of azide binding. Azide binds reversibly to both (Et,Pr)-3 and (Pr,Pr)-1 in MeOH solutions. The ambient temperature K(eq) describing the equilibrium between five-coordinate 1 or 3 and azide-bound 1-N(3) or 3-N(3) in MeOH is approximately 10 times larger for the (Et,Pr) system. In CH(2)Cl(2), azide binds approximately 3 times faster to 3 relative to 1, and in MeOH, azide dissociates 1 order of magnitude slower from 3-N(3) relative to 1-N(3). The increased on rates are most likely a consequence of the decreased structural rearrangement required to convert 3 to an approximately octahedral structure, or they reflect differences in the LUMO (vs SOMO) orbital population (i.e., spin-state differences). Dissociation rates from both 3-N(3) and 1-N(3) are much faster than one would expect for low-spin Fe(III). Most likely this is due to the labilizing effect of the thiolate sulfur that is trans to azide in these structures.

Syntheses of ketonated disulfide-bridged diruthenium complexes via C-H bond activation and C-S bond formation

The alpha-C-H bonds of 3-methyl-2-butanone, 3-pentanone, and 2-methyl-3-pentanone were activated on the sulfur center of the disulfide-bridged ruthenium dinuclear complex [(RuCl(P(OCH3)3)2)2(mu-S2)(mu-Cl)2] (1) in the presence of AgX (X = PF6, SbF6) with concomitant formation of C-S bonds to give the corresponding ketonated complexes [(Ru(CH3CN)2(P(OCH3)3)2)(mu-SSCHR1COR2)(Ru(CH3CN)3(P(OCH3)3)2)]X3 ([5](PF6)3, R1 = H, R2 = CH(CH3)2, X = PF6; [6](PF6)3, R1 = CH3, R2 = CH2CH3, X = PF6; [7](SbF6)3, R1 = CH3, R2 = CH(CH3)2, X = SbF6). For unsymmetric ketones, the primary or the secondary carbon of the alpha-C-H bond, rather than the tertiary carbon, is preferentially bound to one of the two bridging sulfur atoms. The alpha-C-H bond of the cyclic ketone cyclohexanone was cleaved to give the complex [(Ru(CH3CN)2(P(OCH3)3)2)(mu-SS-1- cyclohexanon-2-yl)(Ru(CH3CN)3(P(OCH3)3)2)](SbF6)3 ([8](SbF6)3). And the reactions of acetophenone and p-methoxyacetophenone, respectively, with the chloride-free complex [(Ru(CH3CN)3(P(OCH3)3)2)2(mu-S2)]4+ (3) gave [(Ru(CH3CN)2(P(OCH3)3)2)(mu-SSCH2COAr)(Ru(CH3CN)3(P(OCH3)3)2)](CF3SO3)3 ([9](CF3SO3)3, Ar = Ph; [10](CF3SO3)3, Ar = p-CH3OC6H4). The relative reactivities of a primary and a secondary C-H bond were clearly observed in the reaction of butanone with complex 3, which gave a mixture of two complexes, i.e., [(Ru(CH3CN)2(P(OCH3)3)20(mu-SSCH2COCH2CH3)(Ru(CH3CN)3(P(OCH3)3)2)](CF3SO3)3 ([11](CF3SO3)3) and [(Ru(CH3CN)2(P(OCH3)3)2)(mu-SSCHCH3COCH3)(Ru(CH3CN)3(P(OCH3)2)](CF3SO3)3 ([12](CF3SO3)3), in a molar ratio of 1:1.8. Complex 12 was converted to 11 at room temperature if the reaction time was prolonged. The relative reactivities of the alpha-C-H bonds of the ketones were deduced to be in the order 2 degrees > 1 degree > 3 degrees, on the basis of the consideration of contributions from both electronic and steric effects. Additionally, the C-S bonds in the ketonated complexes were found to be cleaved easily by protonation at room temperature. The mechanism for the formation of the ketonated disulfide-bridged ruthenium dinuclear complexes is as follows: initial coordination of the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group to the ruthenium center, followed by addition of an alpha-C-H bond to the disulfide bridging ligand, having S=S double-bond character, to form a C-S-S-H moiety, and finally completion of the reaction by deprotonation of the S-H bond.

Ligand and Tetrathiometalate Effects in Induced Internal Electron Transfer Reactions

New rhenium sulfide complexes, [Re(IV)(2)(&mgr;-S)(2)(&mgr;-S(2))(&mgr;-S(2)COR)(S(2)COR)(2)](-) and [Re(IV)(2)(&mgr;-S)(2)(S(2)COR)(4)], and a new tungsten sulfide complex, [WS(S(2))(S(2)CC(6)H(5))(2)], have been synthesized and isolated via induced internal redox reactions involving the appropriate tetrathiometalate and 1,1-dithiolate disulfide. The red complex [Re(IV)(2)(&mgr;-S)(2)(&mgr;-S(2))(&mgr;-S(2)COR)(S(2)COR)(2)](-), 1, was isolated from the reaction of dialkylxanthogen disulfide, [(ROCS(2))(2)], and tetraethylammonium tetrathioperrhenate, [Et(4)N][Re(VII)S(4)]. Crystal structure analysis of 1 reveals an edge-sharing (&mgr;-S)(2) bioctahedron containing both bridging disulfide and xanthate ligands. This reaction is compared to the known reaction between tetraalkylthiuram disulfide, [(R(2)NCS(2))(2)], and [Et(4)N][ReS(4)], which produces the green complex [Re(IV)(2)(&mgr;-S)(2)(S(2)CNR(2))(4)]. The corresponding green alkyl xanthate analogue, [Re(IV)(2)(&mgr;-S)(2)(S(2)COR)(4)], 2, was synthesized by a simple redox reaction between rhenium pentachloride, ReCl(5), and potassium alkyl xanthate, [K(S(2)COR)]. Comparing 1 with other known [ReS(4)](-)/1,1-dithiolate disulfide reaction products, such as [Re(IV)(2)(&mgr;-S)(2)(S(2)CNR(2))(4)] and [Re(III)(S(2)CC(6)H(5))(S(3)CC(6)H(5))(2)], shows a correlation between the electron-donating ability of the ligand and the nature of the reaction product. Reactions of [Et(4)N](2)[Mo(VI)S(4)], [Et(4)N][Re(VII)S(4)], or [Et(4)N](2)[W(VI)S(4)] with dithiobenzoate disulfide, [(S(2)CC(6)H(5))(2)], reveal a correlation between the ligand-to-metal charge transfer energy band (LMCT(1)) of the tetrathiometalate and the reaction product. The known purple complex [Mo(IV)(S(2)CC(6)H(5))(4)] and two new green complexes, [Re(III)(S(2)CC(6)H(5))(S(3)CC(6)H(5))(2)] (recently communicated) and [W(VI)S(S(2))(S(2)CC(6)H(5))(2)], were isolated from related reactions.

Synthesis of a &mgr;,eta(2)-Disulfide-Bridged Hexanuclear Ru(II)-Na Cluster Formed from the Reductive Coupling of a &mgr;,eta(1)-Disulfide-Bridged Dinuclear Ru(III) Complex

Upon reduction of the disulfide-bridged complex [{Ru(III)Cl(P(OMe)(3))(2)}(2)(&mgr;,eta(1)-S(2))(&mgr;-Cl)(2)] (3) with Na metal in THF, the hexanuclear cluster complex [Na(2)Ru(II)(4)(P(OMe)(3))(4)(&mgr;-Cl)(4)(&mgr;(4)-Cl)(2)(&mgr;,eta(2)-S(2))(2)(&mgr;-P(OMe)(3)-P,O)(4)].THF (4) was obtained, and the X-ray crystal structure was solved. The crystal is triclinic with space group P&onemacr;. The cell constants are a = 14.927(3) Å, b = 21.063(7) Å, c = 11.802(4) Å, alpha = 93.81(3) degrees, beta = 94.73(2) degrees, gamma = 69.24(2) degrees, V = 3455(1) Å(3), and Z = 2. Compound 4 is a hexanuclear cluster in the crystal, having two units of dinuclear compound 3, bridged by two Na ions. Each Na ion is coordinated by two terminal chlorides, two bridging chlorides, and two phosphite oxygen atoms of the starting compound 3. The other notable feature of 4 is that the disulfide ligand originally in a &mgr;,eta(1)-bridging mode in 3 has been rotated by 90 degrees in 4 and bridges the two Ru atoms in a &mgr;,eta(2)-mode. The S-S distances of 4, 2.050(8) and 2.046(8) Å, are significantly longer than that in 3, 1.971(4) Å, and one of the two sulfur atoms of the disulfide ligand more strongly coordinates to one of the dinuclear Ru atoms, while the other coordinates more strongly to the other Ru atom. Therefore the four Ru-S distances are as follows: Ru(1)-S(1), 2.524(5) Å; Ru(1)-S(2), 2.334(5) Å; Ru(2)-S(1), 2.350(5) Å; Ru(2)-S(2), 2.527(5) Å. The same is observed for the other Ru(3)-Ru(4) dinuclear unit. The Na-Cl distances are normal, and the Na-O distances (2.37(1)-2.45(1) Å) are close to usual Na-O(carboxylate) distances.