Synthesis and characterization of a family of thioether-dithiolate-bridged heteronuclear iron complexes

A bioinspired thiolate-bridged dinickel complex with a pendant amine: synthesis, structure and electrocatalytic properties

By employing X(CH₂CH₂S^-)₂ (X = S, tpdt; X = O, opdt; X = NPh, npdt) as bridging ligands, four thiolate-bridged dinickel complexes supported by phosphine ligands, [(dppe)Ni(μ-1SSS':2SS-tpdt)Ni(dppe)][PF₆]₂ (1[PF₆]₂, dppe = Ph₂P(CH₂)₂PPh₂), [(dppe)Ni(μ-1SSN:2SS-npdt)Ni(dppe)][PF₆]₂ (2[PF₆]₂) and [(dppe)Ni(t-Cl)(μ-1SSX:2SS-C₄H₈S₂X)Ni(dppe)][PF₆] (3[PF₆], X = S; 4[PF₆], X = O) were facilely obtained by the salt metathesis reaction. These four thiolate-bridged dinickel complexes have all been fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. In 2[PF₆]₂, elongation of the Ni-N bond distance, possibly caused by steric hindrance, indicates that the pendant nitrogen group shuttles between the two nickel centers in solution, which is evidenced by ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopic results. Furthermore, these thiolate-bridged dinickel complexes have all been proved to be electrocatalysts for proton reduction to hydrogen. Notably, complex 2[PF₆]₂ featuring a pendant amine group in the secondary coordination sphere exhibits the best catalytic activity at a relatively low overpotential.

Biomimetic catalytic oxidative coupling of thiols using thiolate-bridged dinuclear metal complexes containing iron in water under mild conditions

A green approach to disulfides via aerobic oxidative coupling of thiols was developed with a thiolate-bridged heteronuclear complex in water.

Terminal alkyne insertion into a thiolate-bridged dirhodium hydride complex derived from heterolytic cleavage of H2

Thiolate-bridged dirhodium and diiridium complexes can facilely realize heterolytic cleavage of H2 across the metal-sulfur bond to generate the corresponding hydride bridged complexes. Furthermore, terminal alkynes can insert the Rh-H-Rh fragment to afford σ:π alkenyl bridged complexes and then convert to the corresponding alkenes in the presence of a reductant and an acid.