Extending knowledge on the nucleophilicity of the {Pt2S2} core:: Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2 as an alternative terminal ligand in [L2Pt(μ-S)2PtL2] metalloligands

The reaction of [Pt-2(dppe)(2)(mu-S)(2)] 1, with metal complexes or metal salts gave different types of complexes depending on the nature of the heterometal and of the stoichiometric ratios employed. Thus, a trinuclear complex of formula [Pt(dppe){Pt-2(dppe)(2)(mu(3)-S)(2)}]Cl-2 2 and an apparently mixed PdxPt3-x product 3 have been prepared and characterised. Alternatively, dissolution of 1 in chlorinated solvents affords 2 easily and 3 is formed from 1 with [PdCl2(dppe)]. The pentanuclear complexes of formula [M{Pt-2(dppe)(2)(mu(3)-S)(2)}(2)]X-2 (M = Zn 4 or Cd 5, X = ClO4; M = Cd, X-2 = [CdCl4] 5'; M = Hg, X-2 = [PF6][HgCl4](0.5) 6) have been obtained. The structures of complexes 2, 3, 4, 5, 5' and 6 have been determined crystallographically. Complex 2 comprises three slightly distorted square-planar cis-PtP2S2 co-ordination planes sharing two mu(3)-S ligands. X-Ray data and NMR studies in solution of different crops of crystals support that 3 is essentially a simple solid-solution mixture of pure complexes [Pd(dppe){Pt-2(dppe)(2)(mu(3)-S)(2)}][BPh4](2) 3' and [Pt(dppe){Pd-2(dppe)(2)(mu(3)-S)(2)}][BPh4](2) 3 " in variable proportions with at most a minor component of the homometallic complex 2. The structure of the cations of complexes 4, 5, 5' and 6 comprises two {Pt2S2} butterflies linked through sulfur to the metal(II) ion, which shows a significantly distorted tetrahedral environment. All complexes have been fully characterised by multinuclear NMR techniques and the corresponding parameters are reported.